Be Prudent in Policing: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tells Assam SPs

Play an aggressive role to check drugs and cow transit

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the SPs (Superintendents of Police) on Wednesday in no uncertain terms that the State Government adopted a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and cow transit, and as such the police should play an aggressive role against those involved in such offences.

CM Himanta Advice to Assam Police Officers, SPs

For the first time, the Chief Minister had a meeting with all SPs at the KNP (Kaziranga National Park) on Wednesday. Several important decisions were taken at the meeting to give the State police force a new look and vigour on all fronts. The Chief Minister urged the SPs to be more prudent to enable police to get into the roots of any crime to facilitate expeditious delivery of justice. Prudent policing, according to the Chief Minister, is the backbone of good governance which also plays the role of a catalyst in propelling development.

Talking to the media after the meeting with the SPs, the Chief Minister said, "I've told the SPs in clear terms that they must put an end to drug peddling, consumption and transit through their respective districts.

"We won't allow the transit of cows from our State, nor will we allow our land to be used for the transit of cows from West Bengal and other states.

"In line with the NSG (National Security Guards), we're going to create ten commando battalions in the State. These battalions will be imparted commando training in other States for their deployment in critical situations like the Assam-Nagaland border, Tinsukia border, the BTR (Bodo Territorial Region) and the hill districts.

"At present the duty hours in the police stations in the State is very long. To ease the situation, we've decided to follow duty shifts – if possible three shifts, and if not, two shifts in all police stations. As many as 1.05 lakh cases are pending in various police stations in the State. We need extra manpower for such shifts and the disposal of the pending cases. The recruitment in the police department is very much within our commitment to give one lakh government jobs in the state in a year.

"The jawans of the Assam Police battalions get little time to spend with their family members. They get extraordinary leave (EOL) that they generally opt not to avail of as they can encash such leave after retirement. However, we've decided one-month holiday for battalion jawans yearly to make them spend time with their families. An SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) will be issued for this purpose. There will be a system of annual health check-up for all lower-rung police personnel in the State.

"The paucity of forensic science laboratories (FSLs) is a major hurdle in the State for fast investigation of cases. We've decided to set up seven more FSLs in the State to add pace to the investigation of cases."

The Chief Minister further said that the next meeting with Assam SPs will be at Duliajan after six months, and the process will continue after every six months. "Such meetings will also be held with the deputy commissioners at an interval of six months," he said.

On the inter-State border issues, the Chief Minister said, "We have a case pending at the Supreme Court. We'll protect our boundary at all cost. However, we will also live in the spirit of seven sisters to promote balanced development."

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