by Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Government of Assam would confer “Chief Minister’s Special Services Medal for Outstanding Services in a Crisis Situation” and “State Disaster Response Medal” to honour dedicated and committed services of Assam Police personnel. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced this while attending the “Assam Police Day” celebration as chief guest at 10 th APBn campus at Kahilipara in Guwahati today.

Chief Minister Sonowal also announced the institution of annual health check up for all police personnel apart from setting up “Sishu Mitra Resource Centre” to provide technical assistance to investigating officers to handle all child related cases efficiently and within the timelines, The Chief Minister further launched several initiatives including “One Post One Number”, a single point telephonic contact by providing a permanent mobile number to all field level posts and all senior posts which have a direct contact with public to ensure prompt and responsive service delivery and “Cyber Safety Month”, a month long campaign to create awareness on cyber safety among citizens particularly youth. The Chief Minister also released a telephone directory containing numbers of the field level posts under “One Post One Number” initiative and a report titled “New Dimension in Policing:

The Case of Assam Police as Frontline anti-COVID Workers” which catalogues the citizen centric strategies and response of Assam Police to public during the first four phases of novel corona virus induced lockdown in the State. During the celebration, the Chief Minister further informed that the Government of Assam has enhanced ration allowance of Assam Police personnel from the rank of Followers to Inspectors from the existing Rs. 1200 to Rs. 2000 per month with effect from 1 st October, 2020. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal lauded the role played by Assam Police to mitigate crisis situation especially during the challenging times of COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that Assam Police with its dedicated services have set examples of valour and sacrifice in the society and earned people’s trust and confidence. Underlining the commendable role played by Assam Police in maintaining law & order and safeguarding people’s lives and properties, the Chief Minister said that their services during COVID-19 pandemic set new benchmark in public service. Around five thousand police personnel suffered from COVID-19 and as many as 21 succumbed to the disease, which exemplified the dedication, commitment and courage of the Assam Police, the Chief Minister observed.

The Chief Minister said that fighting against numerous challenges like insurgency, drugs menace and crimes against anti-social elements, women and children, poachers etc., Assam Police made many breakthroughs. Chief Minister Sonowal at the same time urged the police force to maintain integrity and perform its responsibilities in the perfect manner of a ‘friend in need’. Earlier, the Chief Minister paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Assam Police and received guard of honour. While DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta delivered the welcome speech, the programme was also attended by Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Jishnu Baruah, Commissioner & Secretary (Home) GD Tripathi and several other senior police officers.