791 police officials earmarked for investigation: Dispur tells Gauhati High Court

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh police forces have informed the Gauhati High Court that they have police officials earmarked exclusively for investigation. While the Assam Police earmarked 791 officials for investigation of cases, the Mizoram Police identified 120 officials, and Arunachal Pradesh identified 75 officials for investigation.

The police forces of the three states told the High Court bench, comprised of Justice Achintya Malla Bujor Barua and Justice Robin Phukan, during the hearing of the suo moto PIL (2/2019) on February 28, 2023.

The bench said that after the interaction with the Assam Government Counsel and IGP (administration), “it appears that 791 officials of the Assam Police have been identified and earmarked for the purpose of being placed exclusively on the duty of investigation. Out of the 791, a batch of 136 had been trained up by the higher officers of the Assam Police as well as by the Judicial Academy, Assam. But the entire effort of separating the investigative wing got impacted because of the COVID-19 situation…In the circumstances, the Inspector General of Police (Administration) feels that 136 officials who have been trained up will have an interaction with some higher officials of the Assam Police so as to evaluate whether the training is otherwise complete for putting the said batch of officials in for the purpose of investigation or some more training inputs are required to be given.

“For the purpose, on the next returnable date, the matter will be taken up for the said purpose for an update on the said issue as well as to contemplate what further is required to be done.

“Although the Assam Police had also put up certain proposals before the Cabinet for increasing the manpower, creating posts, etc., for the Assam Police, which may also augment the process of separating the investigating wing, it is for the Assam Police and the Government of Assam to take their own decisions on such aspects, but the decision to have more manpower and create posts would have no bearing in the present proceeding, where the basic requirement is to separate the investigating wing of the Assam Police from any other duties that may be required to be performed by them.

“The next batch of officials out of the select list may also be prepared by the Assam Police for imparting training on the methods of investigation.”

The Mizoram Police informed the Court in its affidavit that they identified 120 police officials for the purpose of investigation, out of which 80 are for general offences and 40 are for specific offences.

The Additional Advocate General of Arunachal Pradesh said in an affidavit that they identified 75 officials for the purpose of investigation. The police authorities, as per their wisdom and discretion, may begin to impart any necessary training that may be required.

The Court listed the PIL for the next hearing on March 14, 2023, for further deliberation and updates.

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