Assam CM Sarma asks police to be efficient, people-friendly

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has emphasized that the Assam Police must improve overall efficiency. He has asked the force to ensure three things – people-friendly attitude, scientific mode of investigation and filing of full-proof charge sheets on time.

The Chief Minister expressed this view while outlining a roadmap for strengthening the Assam Police in the days to come during his meeting with senior police officers here on Wednesday.

According to sources, Sarma made it clear that the police personnel must not misuse their powers against common people under any circumstance. He said that the police should try to ensure that they go to the victims' aid instead of the victims having to visit the police station.

The sources said that the Chief Minister indicated that police personnel who are found harassing the public under the influence of alcohol will lose their jobs.

According to the sources, the Chief Minister mentioned that many accused persons secure bail due to the failure of the police to file charge sheets on time, while others get acquitted in court due to weak charge sheets. Therefore, he said that instead of relying on traditional methods, the police must collect evidence in a scientific way and then file watertight charge sheets at the proper time. The government will provide all necessary assistance for this purpose, he added.

The sources said that Sarma also directed senior police officers present at the meeting to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing the government's decision to withdraw over one lakh cases involving crimes of a non-heinous nature.

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister had made the announcement regarding withdrawal of such cases on August 15 last with a view to reducing the burden of pending cases on both the police and the judiciary. Around four lakh cases are pending in various courts of the state as of now, most of which are of a petty nature.

Meanwhile, Assam's Director General of Police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said that the Chief Minister has instructed the Assam Police to keep a close watch on overground activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI), and also play a stronger role to curb cybercrimes.

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