Guwahati, April 7: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed state police battalion commandants and superintendents of police to submit reports on allegations against officers of various ranks who were taking the services of PSOs (personal security officers) and home guards/static guards without permission from the competent authority.
Under the new instructions issued by the chief minister, commandants of all battalions will have to submit an undertaking that no battalion personal is attached with any officer without permission from the competent authority.
“There are allegations against police officers utilising the services of such PSOs for performing domestic chores, carrying out errands or other personal work. So I have sought an undertaking from the battalion commandants and SPs in regard to such allegations within 10 days,” Sarma said.
Besides, all superintendents of police (SPs) will have to give an undertaking that the battalion personal posted for field duty is not attached with any officer for PSO, home guards and static guards or any other household duties.
The chief minister further informed that the number of PSOs in the state has been reduced from 4000 to about 2000 in the subsequent phases.
“Earlier 700 PSOs were reduced from a total of 4000 in the state. Now we have a directive in regard to the number of PSOs that can be attached to ministers, MLAs or the Leader of the Opposition. So on that basis, another 700 PSOs will be removed and thereafter another 600 PSOs will be de-attached. So, we can create another two battalions of police forces with these PSOs,” Sarma said.
Meanwhile, state director general of police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta has also been instructed to ensure a strong monitoring mechanism at all levels.
The Assam Cabinet had adopted a policy to reduce the number of police personnel deployed as personal security officers (PSO), which was costing the exchequer about Rs 400 crore every month.
“Barring those in constitutional posts, like ministers, High Court judges and chief secretary and also deputy commissioners, who face a threat to their lives because of holding offices, we have taken a completely new stance in regard to deployment of PSO to others,” Sarma had said.