The Assam Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Assam in India. A regular police force was initiated in Assam by the British after the Treaty of Yandaboo to maintain the law and order.[2] It functions under the Department of Home Affairs, Assam. The headquarters of Assam Police is situated at Ulubari in the state capital Guwahati.
Organizational structure
Assam Police comes under direct control of Department of Home Affairs, Government of Assam.
The Assam Police is headed by a Director General of Police (DGP). The current DGP of the Assam Police is G.P. Singh, IPS
Assam police forces are organized into police ranges, headed by an inspector general deputy inspector general, who controls several police districts.
The police district is the fulcrum of state police activity and each district is headed by a superintendent. In many states a superintendent is assisted by one or more additional superintendents or deputy superintendents. Generally, a police district is same as a revenue district of a state.
The police district is divided into police sub-divisions under the command of a deputy superintendent of subdivision police officer.
The police sub-division is made up of one or more police circles, and is under the command of an inspector, often referred to as the circle inspector.
Under the police circles are the police stations, generally under the control of a sub-inspector.
Assam state police force also maintains its own Reserve Armed police force (special armed police and armed police) which is responsible for emergencies and crowd control issues. They are generally activated only on orders from the rank of DIG and higher-level authorities. The armed constabulary do not usually come into contact with the general public unless they are assigned to VIP duty, counter-insurgency operations, riot control or to maintain law and order during fairs, festivals, athletic events, elections, and natural disasters. They may also be sent to quell outbreaks of student or labour unrest, organised crime, to maintain guard posts and to participate in anti-terrorist operations. Depending on the type of assignment, the Armed Police force may carry lathis or lethal weapons.
Assam Police also have an elite commando group known as the "Black Panthers" equipped with modern weapons and technology for anti-terrorist operations and VVIP protection.
Branches
With the growth and development of the police administration in the post-colonial era, a number of new branches were established to meet the increasing demands of law and order. Some of these branches are:
Assam Police Highway Patrol Unit, (to be Introduced) [3]
The Assam Police has grown from strength to strength during the last two decade. In 1980 it had a force of 40,290 and at the end of the 20th century its numerical strength stands at 60,721.[4]
Battalion and Reserved Forces
Battalion
Assam Police Battalion personnels are engaged in the onerous task of helping the district police in maintaining Law and Order, besides guarding the vital installations round the clock, including Counter Insurgency, Riot control . They are also engaged in other static security duties.
The raising of CPMF can only meet the regular and increasing demand of the state. It was decided to augment the strengths of the state governments. It is in this context that I.R. Battalions were raised in Assam with the assistance of the central government. The central government however reserves the first right to call on these battalions as and when required for deployment outside the state. The personnel of the battalion are engaged in both operational as well as law and order duties.
APTF Battalion of Assam Police Task Force was raised as a speciality peace keeping force to tackle the instances of communal and group violence.
The personnel of this force were posted in vulnerable areas and minority pockets, so that any sign of communal disharmony could be quickly countered and prevented from flaring up into a major communal violence. This force has functioned effectively as an emergency task force.
Black Panthers:- The Black Panther is a specially trained commando Battalion to deal with counter insurgency operations. This Battalion is headquartered at Mandakata of North Guwahati.
Veerangana:- The Veerangana is a specialised women commando battalion to deal with difficult situations specially women security issues. This force is headquartered at Mandakata of North Guwahati.
SPU:- The "Special Protection Unit" is a modern and unique commando force in Assam Police. It basically deals with issues regarding urban policing or VIP security matters.
ONGC Battalion
25th AP (ONGC) IRBN with temporary Headquartered at Sibsagar for the security of ONGC drilling fields, Employees and ONGC related pickets.
[7]
SDRF Battalion
State Disaster Response Force Assam or SDRF ASSAM is a Specialised force of Assam Police raised with the objective of carrying out relief and rescue operations in a quick and effective manner during any natural and man-made disaster.
There are 05 Companies of SDRF Betalion In Different Parts of Assam.
Officers of Assam Police got many awards and medals for their outstanding and meritorious service.
Many officers and men of the Assam Police, laid down their lives in the fight against extremism since 1986.
List of receivers for 2011 President's Police Medal for Gallantry:
Constable Nirmal Chandra Deka.(Posthumously)
Police Medal for gallantry on republic day 2017.
Pranab Kumar Gogoi Circle Inspector.
Utpal Borah.Sub-Inspector
Anurag Agarwal.SP
Prakash Sonowal.SDPO
Imdad Ali.SDPO
Mahananda Gauria.Constable
Ghanakanta Malakar.Constable
Hemkanta Boro.Constable
Ratneshwar Kalita.Constable
Bapan Roy
Equipment and Vehicles
All the equipment for the Assam Police are manufactured indigenously by the Indian Ordnance Factories, Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
There are many allegations and court cases of police brutality, custodial death, human rights violations, fake encounter killing, extortion, filling fake cases to harass the general public, corruption filed against the Assam Police. Because of the corrupt politicians the police have always complained not being able to function properly. Different organizations and their open extortion are known to the public and the police also have been alleged to have a fair share on those. Another main acquisition of Assam police in the present is that they are the friends of thieves, kidnappers and murderers rather than the public and it is said that the police has a better share in those crime money. Corruption of the organization is at peak with people fearing to go to the police against a crime as they need to pay money to file an FIR or take actions. There have also been reported human rights abuses against the Naga people, which has incited and increased Naga nationalism.
2021 Assam Police Fake Encounters
Starting May 2021 several fake police encounters took place.[8] National Human Rights Commission has been approached with human rights violation in the alleged fake encounters.[9] On 21 December a Public Interest Litigation petition has been filed by Arif Jwadder before the Gauhati High Court demanding independent investigation over the fake encounters killings.[10] Till date 51 deaths and 139 injuries have occurred till date.[11]
