GUWAHATI: As a part of the sequel undertaken to bring about police modernisation in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the first-ever conference of the commandants at the Police Training Centre in Dergaon on Monday.
The conference has been organised to help the Assam Police Battalions transform them into vibrant bodies capable of meeting their mandate.
Delivering his introductory speech, Chief Minister Sarma said that considering the important role played by the commandants and the Assam Police Battalions, the Commandants' Conference will be organised every six months. This will bring about positive changes in the rank and file of the battalions and give a more result-oriented police force to the state.
The Chief Minister also said that since Assam Police Battalions are the backbones of the policing system, he would visit the battalions during his district tours.
CM Sarma also observed that training plays an important role and, therefore, in shaping the professionalism and readiness of the police personnel, retired army officers will be appointed in the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police to impart training.
The officer would be in charge of a rigorous training regimen to help the police personnel meet the changing dynamics of the commission of crimes. He also said that attention would be given to ensure that the personnel of different battalions are not used for any purpose other than those exclusively connected to bonafide policing.
The Chief Minister said that steps would be taken to ensure positive change in the mindset of the forces of the battalions to make them feel that Commandants and forces belonging to different battalions are integral to the Police Forces in Assam. Adequate steps will be taken to empower the Assam Police Battalions to deal with law and order in the state.
They will also be reoriented to control the mob without using lethal weapons or using them to the minimum extent possible.
With the continuous improvement of the situation in the state, AFSPA will likely be lifted from the entire state by the end of this year. In such a situation, Assam Police Battalions would be empowered to replace Central Armed Police Forces other than the number of CPAFs whose presence is mandatory in the state as per law.
Henceforth, steps will be taken to post very good and professional police officers as Commandants, Sarma added.
The Chief Minister also said that government would help every battalion in the state to develop its specific motto to help each battalion to imbibe the motto and learn to dedicate them to the service of the state and its people.
He also said that every battalion should celebrate its raising day with adequate opportunity for the wards of police personnel to showcase their talents like debate, impromptu speech, art etc., in the raising day celebration.
The chief minister said the government would take a step to ensure every battalion has a good school.
Other than the services of the appointed teachers, the service of the good and talented police personnel posted in the battalions will be used. All the battalions have good housing colonies to satisfy the police personnel.
The government will also hold Assam Police Meet encompassing sports and cultural activities of the police personnel in November this year in Dergaon.
Earlier, Chief Minister Sarma, upon arrival at PTC Dergaon, received the guard of honour and inspected the ceremonial parade at Lachit Barphukan Police Training Academy.
He also presented the Union Home Minister's Service Medal to five Assam police personnel for exemplary commitment during training in 2020-21.
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