Assam Police to adopt better measures to counter crime: New DGP

Guwahati, Jan 31 (PTI) New DGP Gyanendra Pratap Singh on Tuesday said the state police will ride on the back of good investigation, forensic scrutiny and prosecution to fight crimes.

Taking charge from the outgoing DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta at the Assam Police headquarters here, Singh addressed his first press conference as the new director general of police of the northeastern state.

"Most important pillars of action against crime and criminals are good investigation, good prosecution, good forensic (scrutiny) -- that shall be the backdrop for the next few years of Assam Police," said Singh, who was the Special DGP (law and prder) prior to the new task.

He was responding to a query if the Assam Police got a moral boosting after the recent Gauhati High Court judgment, in which clean chit was given to the force in a PIL on the high number of encounters in the state since Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed charge in May 2021.

"All measures that are provided by law to Assam Police shall be used to counter crime and criminals so that people are kept safe. There is a vast spectrum of action that needs to be taken by police to counter criminals and crime," Singh said.

As per a government affidavit in the Gauhati High Court, 56 people have died, including four in custody, and 145 others were injured in 171 incidents of police action in just 16 months from May 2021 to August 2022.

Regarding some recent acquittals in drug cases, Singh said, "There is tremendous scope to improve investigation through forensic measures. We have a renowned IPS officer, who is a forensic expert, as consultant." The top police officer said any bad behaviour by policemen while dealing with people will not be tolerated and punitive measures will be initiated against such erring officials.

"I will not let any mistake go unrectified. There will be mistakes and we will rectify those. At the same time, I will not leave my junior officers without support. If I don't support, how will I motivate them to work for the people of Assam?" he said.

The new DGP urged the officers of Assam Police to provide a platform to the general public to exchange ideas and communicate with junior, middle and senior police leadership in their times of crisis.

"In the next 7-8 days, we will come out with a system, under which senior officers will meet the public everyday to listen to their grievances against lower rank officers. In the districts, the SP will listen to the grievances. The DIGs will meet the people in their ranges, while one senior officer will be there in headquarters as well," he added.

The 1991-batch IPS officer also stressed digitisation and said more services will be offered to the public through online mode in the coming days.

Singh also stated that officers in leadership positions from police outposts to headquarters should accord respect and dignity to junior personnel of the force.

"Provide an adequate and appropriate working environment for women police personnel. There is a lack of toilets for women staff. Because of this, they drink less water and it leads to many medical issues. I will talk to the government and try to give safe bathrooms and toilets," he added. PTI TR ACD ACD