Guwahati, Jan 3: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday appealed to the state police force to serve the people with a humane approach but at the same time adopt a zero tolerance policy against criminals and adapt to emerging technologies in tackling crimes.
Addressing the second conference of superintendents of police of all districts of Assam at the oil town of Duliajan in Dibrugarh district, Sarma expressed satisfaction over the progress made by the Assam Police in the past few months towards departmental reforms even as he urged the state police to continue its reform initiatives.
More than 94 police officers in the ranks of SP, additional SP and SDPOs from 34 districts are taking part in the two-day conference held to explore new dimensions of policing in Assam through sharing of experiences, education and motivation.
Sarma further recalled that at the first SPs conference at Kaziranga six months ago, he had urged the Assam police to redefine their role and operational strategy.
Terming quality investigation and effective prosecution as key to a successful police force, he urged the police department to stand firm against all types of injustice committed against the citizens of the state.
Noting that building a technology-driven police force is one of the main objectives of the state government, he said, “Assam police must ensure adaptation of state-of-the-art technology in its work to deal with the changing methods of crime and criminals.”
The chief minister further urged everyone to move away from the “PSO (personal security officer) culture”.
“Police must counter all threats to the society through a strong intelligence and active monitoring system. With the overall improvement of the law and order situation of the state, the police force must take efforts to create an environment where no individual needs personal security in the next two to three years,” he said.
Referring to the direction given to the DGP to complete the recruitment process in Assam Police by May 10, Sarma said with continuous withdrawal of personal security and deployment of adequate human resources in the police department, adequate police personnel would be available at the workplace in the coming days for public safety and investigation of crimes.
Stating that the police department must always be conscious to maintain its image among people, he urged the police not to develop friendship with people accused of crime.
Sarma said the state government would take up a special project in the next budget to construct adequate houses for the police personnel.
He also informed that the third conference of SPs would be held at Dergaon in Golaghat district after six months.