Guwahati, Sep 3 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday announced plans to recruit between 15,000 and 20,000 personnel and promote around 5,000 serving police personnel as part of a major exercise to strengthen the state’s policing infrastructure.
Addressing reporters here after a two-day conference of senior police officers, Sarma said maintaining law and order would remain among the government’s top priorities and directed the police leadership to ensure that Assam’s security situation was not disturbed under any circumstances.
The Chief Minister said the conviction rate of the Assam Police had improved substantially, rising from around 8 per cent in 2020 to 29.30 per cent currently. He attributed the improvement, in part, to timely filing of charge sheets and said the government was targeting a conviction rate of 35 per cent.
Sarma also announced the creation of two new police battalions. One will focus on disaster management, while the other will cater to security requirements of Oil India and ONGC installations. The government is simultaneously working to speed up promotions in the force, with approximately 5,000 personnel expected to receive promotions.
The Lachit Borphukan Police Academy will also be upgraded with the objective of giving it national-level status.
Sarma said the academy was being developed to meet the changing requirements of modern policing. Police housing is another area where the government plans a major expansion.
Assam currently has around 10,000 police houses for a force of nearly 90,000 personnel. The government intends to increase the number of residential units to 30,000.
Sarma also announced plans to establish an Anti-Narcotics Task Force within a month to intensify action against drug trafficking. The proposed force will also investigate economic offences.
The government plans to seek stricter punishment for drug dealers and pursue the attachment of properties allegedly linked to drug trafficking.
The Chief Minister said decisions taken at the police conference would be implemented within six months.
The next conference of police superintendents will be held in Bongaigaon in February.
–IANS
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