ASSAM POLICE the journey through changes & challenges

ASSAM POLICE the journey through changes & challenges

Edited by Samudra Gupta Kashyap Bijay Sankar Bora on inputs provided by Assam Police

Photographs Anupam Nath Assam Police

Publisher: Assam Police

First Published: 2019

Layout & Design Himangshu Lahkar

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil clams for damage.

Copyright Assam Police

Printed at: Bhabani Offset & Imaging Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Sarbananda Sonowal Chief Minister, Assam

Dispur 09.08.2019

MESSAGE

Assam Police personnel always render their duty displaying the highest order of integrity and discipline in accordance with the law and the Constitution and respect the rights of citizens as guaranteed by it. It is really heartening to know that the Assam Police is bringing out a book to give a pictorial representation of some of its unlimited selfl ess demeanours that it undertakes during peace or disturbed situation apart from its humanitarian works that it occasionally does for the welfare of all. Hope the book brings to light the onerous task undertaken by the Assam Police in saving lives and properties of our people and ensuring enduring smile to our citizens. I am sure that the book would be well appreciated by all.

(SARBANANDA(SARBANANDA SONOWAL)SONOWAL

FOREWORD

ince the compilation of the book ‘Assam Police through the Years’, there have been lot of changes in the Assam Police at the organizational, structural and multiple other strategic Slevels in this decade-long hiatus. Population has increased, new avenues of crime have unfolded with advent of new and ever-changing technologies and also global village scenario, outlook and attitude have transformed radically. Police, as an organization, had to change and renovate itself from just a crime controlling organization to an organization with much broader perspective to meet those novel challenges.

Thanas and outposts have been set up even in remote areas, specialized police units have been formed, dedicated wings have been put in place to deal with issues like cyber-crimes or social media abuses. Technology applied to deal with crime has also undergone tremendous changes. Apart from that, police outreach to the people through different help lines, social media posts have increased manifolds. Many women have been recruited to make the organization more encompassing. Training methodologies have also wrapped up modern inputs.

In view of these overwhelming changes, need for a new book has been felt deeply to capture these aspects. This book is aimed as a brief history since inception and a record of the time. Assam Police is synonymous to unwavering dedication, discipline and duty. It always strives to build up a strong Police-Public relation for encouraging community participation in law enforcement and promote spirit of brotherhood amongst all segments of society. However, this indefatigable demeanor often gets lost in a maze of other things and receive very inadequate attention. Therefore, this book is an attempt to bring to the fore many least known facets of Assam Police.

I hope the book will stand the test of time.

I am immensely grateful to the authors and the entire production team who have made this project possible in an impossibly short time.

I wish Assam Police a great success.

(KULADHAR , IPS) Director General of Police Assam, Ulubari, Guwahati CONTENTS

The Journey begins 12 Criminal Investigation Department 22 Special Branch 32 The Battalions 36 Assam Police Radio Organisation 50 On river route 60 Fire fighters 68 Special Forces 76 Force multiplier 84 Training Institutes 96 Wings to fight corruption & economic offences 106 Policing in turbulent times 112 GUWAHATI POLICE COMMISSIONERATE 122 Community out reach 128 HERITAGE MATTERS 140 SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE 144 Assam Police Housing Corporation 152 Beyond policing 158 Assam Police Day celebrations 168

12 Chapter 1 The Journey begins

13 14 he genesis of present-day police station in required to assist other revenue offi cials. the state of Assam dates back to around 1826 when three police stations were While the Rangpur Local Light Infantry of 1823, T st set up at Guwahati, Rangpur (now ) renamed as 1 Assam Light Infantry in 1827, and . Each of these police stations was was the virtual forerunner of all police and para- manned by one daroga, one jamadar and a few military forces in Assam and the Northeastern constables. Region, mention must be also made of the Assam Sebundy (Irregular) Corps was raised In March 1828, the administration of Assam in Guwahati in 1835 and deployed in Sadiya. was entirely vested on the civil authority and This Corps was renamed as 2nd Assam Light the function of the military was confi ned to Infantry in 1843. guarding the frontier areas and carrying out expeditions against ‘hostile’ tribal communities. As mentioned in AJ Moffatt Mills’ ‘Report on the Province of Assam’ (1853), the police system With the division of the into of Assam was in need of a Rural Police force. six districts – Kamrup, , Darrang and in 1834, and Sivasagar and Lakhimpur Seven years after the Mills’ Report came the in 1839, the number of police stations were Police Commission of 1860, and it was on its increased to seven (one each in Kamrup, report that the Police Act V of 1861 was passed. Goalpara, Darrang, Nagaon and Lakhimpur, This Act recommended abolition of the quasi- while Sivasagar had two – one each at military units and creation of an organized Sivasagar and Jorhat); each was managed by constabulary. Accordingly, the Sivasagar, a daroga, a thanadar, a handful of constables Lakhimpur and Nagaon Police Militia and the and a couple of peons – all of whom were also Kuki Levy in Cachar were absorbed into the

15 Off-spring of Assam Police

Like , the country’s oldest counter-insurgency force, which was born out of Assam Police, the police forces of as many as three other states – Nagaland, Meghalaya and – also have their roots in the Assam Police. Nagaland got its own police force immediately after it became a separate state on December 1, 1963, with the police force in the then Naga Hills district of Assam becoming the base for it. Likewise, came into being by initially comprising of the Assam Police force that were in existence in the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills district and the Garo Hills district, which together had become a separate state in 1972. The erstwhile Lushai Hills district of Assam, which was renamed as Mizo District in 1954, on the other hand became the of Mizoram on January 21, 1972, and with this the erstwhile Assam Police in Mizo district was converted into . Mizoram later became a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987.

16 new police force and nine police districts were The government had, under provisions of the created in 1862, these being Goalpara, Kamrup, Police Act of 1861 also created a ‘Punitive Darrang, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Khasi Police’ in 1880 in Goalpara, Sylhet and and Jaintia Hills, Cachar and Sylhet districts. Shillong to tackle recurrence of disturbances. This Police was empowered to realize its Four years later, in 1866, the government maintenance cost from the erring inhabitants, constituted the Naga Hills Police and the and thus the name. Garo Hills Police. Assam Police was divided into two distinct branches – Civil Police and In 1874, the government created a special force Frontier Police – in 1878, with the two forces called River Police. The Railway Police on the having strengths of 1,483 and 2,174 personnel other hand came into existence in 1885 with respectively. just one Head Constable and four Constables to assist the railway survey party. In 1874, the government had created the Municipal Police. Entrusted with maintenance The Assam Police Frontier regulation of 1882 of law and order in the towns as also prevention meanwhile led to giving a distinct military role and detection of crime, the Municipal Police to the Frontier Police to defend the frontiers was initially only in Guwahati, and of the Province. It was soon divided into four Sylhet. In 1876 Municipal Police was created corps to be stationed in Cachar, Lakhimpur, in Goalpara, in 1877 in , and in 1878 Garo Hills and Naga Hills. Barring these four in Shillong. By 1881 Silchar and Sivasagar too districts, the responsibility of guarding jails got Municipal Police. In April 1881 however, the and treasuries was vested on the Civil Police. Municipal Police all districts except Sylhet and Shillong was merged with the Civil Police. In 1890, its name was changed from Frontier

17 Police to Assam Military Police. At the beginning of the 20th Century, the government created the post of Inspector General of Police who also held charges of Jails, Registration and Stamps. The IGP had two forces under him - (i) Civil Police for maintenance of law and order and prevention and detection of crimes, and (ii) Military Police for maintaining frontier outposts and holding as a garrison the Garo, Naga and Lushai Hills.

The Civil Police in each of the plains districts was headed by a District Superintendent or an Assistant Superintendent of Police. The Military Police on the other hand had fi ve Battalions – (1) Lakhimpur Battalion with headquarters at Dibrugarh, (2) Silchar Battalion with headquarters in Shillong, (3) Naga Hills Battalion with headquarters at Kohima, (4) Garo Hills Battalion with headquarters at Tura, and (5) Lushai Hills Battalion with headquarters at . This Military Police was destined to become the Assam Rifl es on a later date.

At the end of 1901, the Civil Police and Armed Civil Police had 2,748 personnel including offi cers and men, while the Military Police had 3,087. The number of police stations on the other hand increased to 94. Districts like Darrang, Nagaon, Sivasagar and Lakhimpur had seven police stations each,

18 Kamrup had 10, Goalpara had 19 while Sylhet 1913. It was in 1919, Assam Police got its fi rst had 29. The remaining eight were located in Indian Police (IP) offi cer as an IGP, he being AA Garo Hills, Khasi and Jaintia Hills, and Naga Campbell. In 1937, the Assam Police was also Hills. That was the time the post of Inspector entrusted with the administration of the Motor General of Police was fi rst created. The fi rst Vehicles Act which was so long vested with the IGP was Chichele Plowden, a civil servant. Public Works Department.

The year 1900 saw amalgamation of the Assam Assam Rifl es was completely separated from Civil Police and the Armed Civil Police. In 1912, the Assam Police. The separation came into Assam was separated from East Bengal and effect from September 17, 1947, when HG made a Chief Commissioner’s Province, with the Bartley, CIE, IP, was appointed the fi rst Inspector capital in Shillong. Soon after Assam became General of Assam Rifl es and placed directly a separate province, the Police department set under the Governor of Assam. up its Finger Print Bureau, while the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch The reorganization scheme that was begun in and Investigation Branch were created in 1945 under JP Reid on the other hand suddenly turned obsolete, necessitating fresh revamping of the Assam Police in the changed scenario. The trans-border movement on the other hand led to a new kind of situation including that of law and order.

While Assam Police was then headed by an Inspector General, there were two Deputy Inspectors General immediately under him, one heading the CID, the other looking after Administration.

The years immediately after Independence were indeed very challenging. The force was defi nitely inadequate, especially with large number of people moving across the newly- created border. There were serious law and order issues too, especially with riots breaking out in certain pockets. But then the Assam Police stood up to the occasion and handled the situation very impressively despite lack of professional training to face such a situation.

The strength of the Assam Police at the time of Independence stood at just around 8,000 including men and offi cers. Since then Assam Police has grown from strength to strength.

Several new branches of the Assam Police

19 were created over a period of two decades after Independence, the chief of the police administration, which was vested on an Inspector General of Police was upgraded to that of a Director General of Police in 1978.

Assam Police today comprises of the following branches and wings – Training and Armed Police, Special Branch, CID, Border, Railway Police, Special Task Force, Prosecution, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Bureau of Investigation (Economic Offences), Village Defence Organisation, Assam Police Radio Organisation, Fire and Emergency Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, Chief

20 Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell, and Assam country. The force is today headed by a DGP, Police Housing Corporation. followed Special DGPs and Additional DGPs heading different branches and wings. Keeping pace with the needs of changing times, Assam Police has not only grown in size, Awards, Accolades galore but has also equipped itself with modern and Dedicated, courageous and selfl ess service state-of-the-art equipment on one hand, and a rendered by its rank and fi le has brought a constant upgradation of skills of its numerous number of awards and recognitions to Assam personnel at various levels on the other Police personnel over the years. Offi cers and other ranks of Assam Police have won various With the enactment of the Assam Police Act, national and state awards for rendering 2007, the force has redefi ned its role taking into distinguished and meritorious service. This has account the emerging challenges of policing not only raised the esteem of the Assam Police, and security of the State. Today, Assam Police but has also enhanced the trust of the common is one of the most effi cient police forces in the people on it. Such awards have, in the past couple of decades come mostly for displaying exemplary courage and professional acumen in handling counter-insurgency operations, sometimes jointly with the Army and different central para-military forces, mostly exclusively by itself.

While such dedicated and selfl ess service has led to bringing insurgency and militancy under control, the citizens have also found in the Assam Police a force to rely upon during incidents of crime affecting both individuals as well as the community.

Lists of winners of President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Meritorious Service, and Gallantry given away at the national level every year on the occasion of Independence Day, thus invariably have names of offi cers and other ranks from the Assam Police. Likewise, Assam Police offi cers and other ranks also fi gure prominently every year in the list of awardees on the occasion of Republic Day.

Offi cers and other ranks rendering outstanding service during specifi c incidents also get Chief Minister’s Police Medals for Outstanding Service, apart from the DGP’s Commendation Medals every year.

21 22 Chapter 2 Criminal Investigation Department

23 24 he Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police was created in T1913 following recommendations of the Second Police Commission headed by Andrew Henderson Leith Fraser, a British offi cer of the Indian Civil Service, in 1902. While the new province of Assam came into existence in 1912 after it was bifurcated from Eastern Bengal (with which it was clubbed in 1905), the Police underwent substantial expansion on the basis of Fraser’s report.

The CID in fact was born with two wings – the Special Branch and the Investigation Branch – under it in 1913, the Finger Print Bureau, which was set up a year before that, was also immediately placed under it. It was fi rst headed by a Special Superintendent of Police, and AEH Shettleworth was the fi rst to occupy this position. With the CID gaining importance and facing increased volume of work, the post

25 of Deputy Inspector General of Police (CID) was created in 1935 and RR Cumming became its fi rst DIG. The headquarters of Assam Police CID was shifted to Guwahati in 1974 from Shillong after creation of Meghalaya in 1972.

Initially, the objectives of CID were to co- ordinate between the police of different districts and different ranges, to check crime, to secure detection and arrest of wanted criminals, to trace and recover stolen property and to act as an agency for disseminating intelligence likely to aid police in their work. Over the years, however, the crime scenario has changed, and so has the CID. Now the CID is become the nodal agency for dealing with matters related to crime in the state. It is currently headed by a Special DGP/ADGP.

CID investigates cases which are complex, organized and have wider ramifi cations. The cases are either registered at CID Police Station or investigation is taken over by CID from district required for effective and prompt investigation. police by order of the Courts, or DGP, Assam. It conducts important The Assam Police CID has as many as nine enquiries endorsed by Government of Assam, units that have specialised functions. These DGP Assam Police, the Courts and Special, are – DGP, CID, as and when such orders are Crime against Women and Children Cell passed. It also gives guidance and assistance State Finger Print Bureau to Investigating Offi cers in investigation and Dog Squad monitors investigation of important cases of Cyber Lab the districts. It also imparts in-house training apart from conducting training outside the CID CCTNS headquarters, apart from extending technical Narcotics/Drugs Cell support in investigation (cyber, fi ngerprint Anti-Human Traffi cking Unit etc.) to the districts. CID Police Station State Crime Records Bureau In recent times, crimes have also become Cell for Organised and White-Collar Crimes heavily technology-driven, leading to various new forms of crime, like cyber-crime, crimes Training involving Non-Banking Finance Companies, human traffi cking, and so on. This has Crime against Women and Children prompted the Assam Police CID to organise The Women’s Cell was set up in 1994, for specialised training for its offi cers intended the purpose of monitoring and guidance of at enhancement of both knowledge and skill investigating offi cers for thorough investigation

26 care and protection of children and children in confl ict with law. State Finger Print Bureau The State Finger Print Bureau in the CID, Assam, is headed by the Director, FPB. The team of FPB experts visit scene of crime for collection of chance prints and identifi cation of criminals. Chance prints left by the culprits at the time of committing the crime are used to prove their culpability in the crime. The Bureau also maintains fi ngerprint slips of illegal migrants apprehended and pushed back by the Assam Police Border Branch. Dog Squad The Assam Police CID’s Dog Squad has eight tracker dogs, fi ve sniffer (narcotic) dogs and ten sniffer (explosive) dogs, which are being used in detecting crime and criminals. Sniffer and tracker dogs are deputed to different police districts. Sniffer dogs have been used during of cases of crimes against women and children. the process of investigation of different types In 1997, a Family Counselling Centre was set of criminal cases and numerous cases have up in this Cell in consultation with the Social been successfully investigated with the help of Welfare department for providing counselling services provided by the Dog Squad. to estranged couples as also to help reduce problems like family and marital disputes, Cyber Crime atrocities on women, alcoholism, etc. In 2018, With the number of cyber crimes increasing CID set up a State Women’s Cell, for particularly in the past few years, the Assam Police monitoring investigation of heinous cases CID’s Cyber Crime Cell has become busier related to crime against women. This Cell also every passing day. The Supreme Court, in an supervises important cases all over the State order on October 24, 2017 in a suo moto writ involving crime against women. Realising its petition relating to Videos of Sexual Violence commitment to the society, this Cell has also and Recommendations had directed the played a major role in curbing social menaces government to set up a central reporting like prostitution and dowry deaths. It also mechanism in every for receiving conducts raids in hotels, restaurants, private complaints of child pornography, rape and houses, beauty parlours etc., from time to time gang-rape contents circulated through internet. to check illegal activities. This Cell has also Accordingly, the Ministry of Home Affairs in developed posters on child-related laws and 2017 developed an online reporting portal procedures, which have been distributed to called “cybercrime.gov.in” under its Cyber different police stations for wider publicity of Crime Prevention against Women and Children the campaign to curb crimes against children, scheme. Accordingly, the CID was appointed as well as for generating awareness about the Nodal agency to deal with matters related

27 Operation Muskaan

While the Ministry of Home Affairs had in January 2015 launched a sustained campaign titled ‘Operation Smile’ throughout the country to rescue missing children and reunite them with their parents/families, the campaign evoked such good response that the Ministry rolled out another dedicated month-long campaign titled ‘Operation Muskaan’ throughout the country in July, 2015. Since then ‘Operation Muskaan’ has been an annual feature. Assam Police too has been playing a signifi cant role in Operation Muskaan, in the process recovering, rescuing and helping in rehabilitation of several hundred missing children. With Assam CID playing the pivotal role in this campaign, several hundred missing children have been reunited with their parents/families, while a number of cases related to missing children were also registered. Following are the activities taken up by the Assam CID as part of Operation Smile and Operation Muskaan -  All children residing in shelter homes, platforms, bus stands, roads, religious places, etc., are to be screened by trained Police personnel.  Before the operation, the Police personnel are properly trained in methodology to extract information from such children tactfully without they getting intimidated, as well as in various provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) JJ Act, Protection of Child Right Act, relevant sections of CrPC and IPC and Advisories issued by MHA etc.  To know the magnitude of the problem, data with full details of number of cases of missing children are maintained and shared at intra-State and inter-state level. Information about Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) are prepared and shared among all rescue teams and stakeholders.  During the operation, the particulars of such identifi ed children are uploaded on the ‘Missing Child’ portal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development by the respective State Police.  Rehabilitation measures whenever needed are taken up in coordination with the other line Departments like Social Welfare, Police, Labour etc., so that scope of re-victimization is eliminated.  Public awareness is increased by way of national campaign, advertisement on national media, etc.

28 to the cyber portal. The Cell also has a helpline FIR and covering all the 348 police stations, number to receive complaints, while a Cyber Assam is among the top 10 performing states Forensic Training Lab is also coming up in terms of CCTNS implementation. While it has under it. made online police verifi cation for passports, Permanent Resident Certifi cates, PSUs and Cyber Crime Cell other employers have also found the CCTNS Cyber Crime Cell is functioning at CID service for online employee verifi cation very Headquarters in Guwahati with an objective handy and smooth. With Assam launching to investigate complicated Cyber Crime the National Police Portal in 2017, police cases, which the district police are not able to investigation has become speedier due to the investigate properly due to lack of technical nationwide crime data sharing facility platform expert at district level. The offences handled made available by CCTNS. by this Cell broadly include :- Narcotic Cell  Social Media Fraud, Assam has been facing the menace of illicit  Financial Fraud, trade of narcotics and psychotropic drugs as  Hacking of Email ID/ Facebook ID/ Bank it happens to be situated close to the Golden Accounts, Triangle and on the corridor of narcotics trade  Creation of fraud account, connecting Myanmar, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, etc., with the rest of the country. A large  Publishing obscene materials in Facebook. number of youth and young adults are also CCTNS falling prey to drug abuse. The Assam Police Crime and Criminal Tracking Network &Systems CID’s Narcotic Cell has helped in detection of (CCTNS) is a plan scheme conceived in the light such crimes across the state. It also provides of experience of a non-plan scheme namely - guidance to investigating offi cers for proper Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA). detection and investigation of such cases. CCTNS is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan of Govt of . Anti-Human Trafficking Unit: CCTNS aims at creating a comprehensive and Assam is a major source, transit route and integrated system for enhancing the effi ciency also a destination state for traffi cking in and effectiveness of policing through adopting persons. Given this backdrop, 36 AHTUs have of principle of e-Governance and creation been set up in Assam covering all districts, of a nationwide networking infrastructure GRP and CID. Of these, 10 AHTUs have been for evolution of IT-enabled-state-of-the-art created with funds received from the Ministry tracking system around ‘Investigation of crime of Home Affairs, Government of India. and detection of criminals’. Being multidisciplinary in nature, the Unit involves persons from stakeholders like the CCTNS Assam has made a steady progress departments of social welfare, health, labour since its inception in 2013 terms of project and prosecution etc., including Police offi cers. implementation in the ground level. Online It serves as effective method of dealing with generation of 19.4 lakh GD and 4.96 lakh FIR issues related to human traffi cking with a is a signifi cant progress despite limitation and multipronged approach. Assam Police has also challenges of this region. The key focus is to created Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) provide online citizen services to public. With in all the districts to deal with children, both CCTNS Assam achieving 100% digitization of in need of care and protection and also with

29 children in confl ict with law, in a child-friendly one in Jorhat, the other in Silchar. These labs manner. Social workers have been roped in to provide vital support to the investigation of the SJPUs to assist the Child Welfare Police cyber-crime cases including cyber- crime cases Offi cer in dealing with child victims. There are 35 having a human traffi cking angle. Five more of SJPUs in the state covering all police districts such laboratories, to be set up in different parts and GRP. Meanwhile, the process of creation of the State, are in the pipeline. of digital data base of offenders arrested in human traffi cking cases has been initiated CID Police station in the CCTNS. Assam Police CID being the Assam Police set up a CID Police Station in nodal agency for dealing with issues related to 1997. While this police station enables the CID human traffi cking, also closely monitors such to register important cases after preliminary crime cases across the region, and conducts enquiry has been made, cases are also training for Police Offi cers in such matters in forwarded from other police stations to the coordination with various stakeholders. CID Police Station depending on the urgency and specialisation of the investigation. The Cyber Forensic Training Labs CID Police Station also gets a number of cases Increased use of technology, more specifi cally endorsed by the PMO portal and the CMO the social media platforms, is believed to portal from time to time. have led to an increase in incidents of human traffi cking. Given this emerging scenario, the State Crime Record Bureau Assam Police CID has established two Cyber The SCRB in CID collects, maintains and Forensic Training Laboratories in the state, consolidates all crime-related data. All the

30 crime-related information and replies of Lok capacity and thereby improving the quality of Sabha, Rajya Sabha and State Legislative investigation. Assembly, besides crime returns are dealt with by this Bureau. It also carries out analysis of Training & Capacity Building crime data from on a need basis from time CID Assam conducts regular training to time. The Bureau also provides data to the programmes for offi cers of various levels from National Crime Record Bureau of the Ministry all over the state as a part of its capacity- of Home Affairs for publication of the ‘Crime in building initiatives. The training programmes India’ report and other purposes. cover legal aspects in investigation, new trends in crimes, human traffi cking, crimes against Other organized & White-collar Crime Cell women and children and so on. Resource Assam has witnessed an increase in the persons are drawn from other institutions and number of organized crimes in the past few organisations apart from senior offi cers of the years. These include cases relating to arms Assam Police, depending upon the topics taken traffi cking, wildlife crime, illegal coal trade, up for training. Senior offi cers of CID Assam sand mining, betting and gambling, fake Indian also attend various seminars, conferences currency notes (FICN), etc. The Cell, which is and workshops as resource persons, in which assigned to deal with such crime matters, they share their experiences, especially related provides assistance to the investigators of such to handling and solving cyber-crime, crime cases across the State, apart from imparting against women and children, narcotic-related training to the investigators for enhancing their crime, wildlife crime, and so on.

31 32 Chapter 3 Special Branch

33 34 he Special Branch of the Assam Police Sections to exclusively deal with earmarked was originally a branch under the CID, subjects. Each Section has a staff varying from Twhich itself was created in 1913. The 10 to 15 in the rank of Inspector, Sub Inspector British government had originally created it and Constables. for gathering intelligence about the freedom movement and also for its concern over extremist The DSBs on the other hand are administratively activities that were beginning to take place here under the Special Branch Headquarters but and there across the then large province of operationally under the Superintendents of Assam covering almost the entire present-day Police of the respective districts. It has an Northeast. In 1965 however, it was bifurcated effective network of intelligence and has been from CID and made a separate wing altogether, rendering valuable service to the State. Way under the command, control and supervision back in 1962, the Assam Police Border Wing of one Deputy Inspector General of Police. (now Assam Police Border Organisation) Subsequently, this position was upgraded to was established under the Special Branch to that of an Additional Director General of Police. implement the P.I.P. (Prevention of Infi ltration of Pakistani) Scheme. In 1974 however the Border The Special Branch deals with the collection, Organisation was separated from the Special collation and dissemination of intelligence Branch. having security and law and order implications. It usually deals with sensitive matters like The Special Branch also has a Special Operations public agitation, subversive activities which Unit (SOU) under it – which has been notifi ed carry potential and real danger to the security as a Police Station – to deal with activities of of the state and the nation. Security matters of militant groups and important cadres of such vulnerable persons, vital installations and key groups. The Superintendent of Police of Special industries also fall within the purview of this Operations Unit exercises the power of an Branch. Offi cer-in-Charge of a Police Station.

With the development and use of sophisticated The Special Branch has played a more role in technology in various fi elds, the Special Branch bringing back a large number of youth from too has geared itself up to keep pace with these the path of militancy and violence. The most developments by upgrading itself in all spheres. signifi cant achievement is the Suspension of It has made signifi cant improvements in using Operation (SoO) agreement that the government modern techniques and in the re-structuring as signed with as many as 14 militant groups. well as in the re-deploying of its personnel to cater to the needs of effective intelligence. It has also been involved in operating and managing the special rehabilitation scheme in The Special Branch has two different set-ups, collaboration with other government departments. these being the Headquarters in Guwahati SWABALAMBAN scheme, launched recently, and the District Special Branch (DSB) set-up has given a platform for skill development and in the districts. The entire work handled by rehabilitation by providing economic opportunities SB Headquarters has been categorized into to the surrendered militants.

35 36 Chapter 4 The Battalions

37 38 Genesis The origin of the Assam Police Battalion (APBn) can be traced back to the Second World War. As the Japanese forces conquered Burma (present-day Myanmar) in May 1942 and began advancing towards India’s eastern border, the Allied Forces geared up to resist them. This necessitated building up strong bases in Manipur and the Naga Hills (the latter then a district of Assam), leading to massive movement of troops from different countries through mainland India.

It was in this backdrop that the then British government created the Assam Rail Force (ARF) in 1942. This Rail Force in fact was actively involved in the Second World War as an auxiliary force of the Allied Army, and many of its men were directly engaged in fi ghting the invading Japanese troops. A number of Rail Force personnel were thus sent for training with the Maratha Light Infantry, which was part of the Allied Army, so that, in addition to guarding and ensuring smooth passage of trains transporting the troops, these men could also take on the Japanese whenever the need arose.

After the Second World War came to an end, and after India attained Independence, the new

39 40 Police Battalion was shifted to its present location at Ligiripukhuri near Nazira.

Being a successor to the Rail Force which had taken active role in the Second World War, the 1st Assam Police Battalion is today in proud possession of several items that were used in the historic battles that took place between the invading Japanese and defending Allied forces. These prized possessions include one Thomson Sub-Machine Gun with a drum magazine and a long-and-short magazine, which bear the manufacturing mark of Auto Ordinance Corporation, New York, and was used by the Allied Army. There are also two Japanese weapons, one of which is a sniper rifl e, the other a regular rifl e, both having An US-made Th omson Sub-Machine Gun used by the imprints in the Japanese language. A number Allied Army in the Second World War in the Naga Hills of khukris used by the Allied troops are also and two Japanese guns are now part of antiques in preserved in the 1st Assam Police Battalion at possession of 1st Assam Police Battalion at Ligiripukhuri. Ligiripukhuri.

government converted the Rail Force into what Among other antique items that are preserved was named the Assam Police Battalion. While in the 1st Assam Police Battalion is a running the decision to convert it into its new avatar silver trophy for a shooting competition was taken in April, 1948, the Assam Police instituted way back in 1892, which was Battalion came into existence from July 15, manufactured by Elkington & Co, Birmingham. 1948. The fi rst Commandant of this fi rst police The trophy was won by several British offi cers force created in Assam after Independence until it came into the possession of some un- was a British Indian Police offi cer called HFG named offi cer of this Battalion. It also has in its Burbidge. display another Silver trophy, the Assam Police Battalion Football Trophy, which was presented The newly-created Assam Police Battalion was by HFG Burbidge, the fi rst Commandant, in fi rst located at Kopahtoli in Dergaon, where 1948. the Allied Forces had set up an airfi eld during the Second World War. It had as many as 1545 The Assam Police, as on January 1, 2019, has 28 personnel on its rolls, among whom 1437 reserved battalions under different categories. were constables and offi cers, the remainder They include 14 Assam Police Battalions, four being clerical and offi ce staff. The Battalion’s Assam Police Task Force Battalions, eight uniform was initially olive green, which was India Reserve Battalions, and one Commando later replaced by khaki. In 1952, the government Battalion. created a second Assam Police Battalion, which too was located at Dergaon, following The battalion personnel are engaged in the which the pioneer Battalion was renamed as 1st onerous task of helping the district police in Assam Police Battalion. In 1983, the 1st Assam maintaining law and order, besides guarding

41 various vital installations round the clock. They are also engaged in other static security duties. The various Battalions have shown their worth in operations against various insurgent groups and in maintaining the line of communications, giving general security to the people.

Most of the Battalions also have platoons manning the inter-state Border Out Posts (BOP) at various far-fl ung remote locations.

Each battalion location in the state is a small township by itself with complete barracks, various training facilities, family quarters, health centres, sports grounds. Most of the units also have consumer co-operative societies and family welfare centres for the benefi t of families of jawans. Individual battalions 1st APBn is located at Ligiripukhuri in . It was raised on 15th July, 1948. The personnel of this battalion are also engaged in manning 11 Border Out Posts (BOPs).

2nd APBn is located at Makum in district. It was raised on 15th July, 1952. The personnel of this battalion are engaged in law and order duties besides manning four BOPs.

This battalion of Assam Police is a spin-off of colonial era Assam Rail Force (ARF) which was raised in 1942 during the World War II for protection of the railway track in eastern Assam in the wake of Japanese Army making rapid advance towards Burma.

The ARF continued to function even after Independence. The ARF was designated as a provincial Armed Police Battalion in 1948. Th is trophy, presented to the Assam Police by Assam The Provincial Armed Police Battalion was Company Ltd, the world's oldest tea company, in split on 1st August, 1952 into two battalions appreciation of detection and recovery of a huge sum for administrative convenience – Ist APBn of cash from armed robbers near Nazira in 1950, is a part of the collection with 1st Assam Police Battalion, and 2nd APBn. The unit headquarter was Ligiripukhuri.

42 43 initially at Dergaon. So, since the raising the headquarter of the 2nd APBn was in Dergaon. The headquarter was shifted to Makum on 10th July, 1975. The battalion headquarter is located on a plot of over 160 bighas of land.

Forty-fi ve women police constables are now part and parcel of this historic battalion. Most of these women members of the battalion are posted in various districts and organisations while a few are engaged in the battalion headquarter.

3rd APBn is located at Titabor in . It was raised in 25th January, 1956. This Battalion was raised as the 3rd Bn. B.S.F. at Dergaon with the 1st APBn, and subsequently shifted to Salonibari near in 1959. It was again shifted to Dergaon in the year 1960 and redesignated as 3rd APBn effective from 1st April, 1961. It moved out of Dergaon to its present headquarter at Titabor on 14th August, 1969. The personnel of this battalion are engaged in Law and Order duties besides manning six Border Outposts (BOPs) .

4th APBn is located at Kahilipara in Guwahati personnel of this battalion are mostly engaged in district of Kamrup Metropolitan. It was in law and order duties. The original 7th AP raised on 16th June, 1962. The personnel of this Battalion, however, was located in Shillong, and battalion are engaged in law and order duties was left back there when the state of Meghalaya besides manning 4 BOPs. was created in May, 1972 to be rechristened as the 1st Meghalaya Police Battalion. 5th APBn is located at Sontilla in NC Hills (Dima Hasao) district. It was raised on 16th 8th APBn is located at A bhayapuri in March, 1964. The personnel of this battalion district. It was raised on 26th June, 1966. Its are mostly engaged in law and order duties. personnel are mostly engaged in the guarding of vital installations and maintenance of law 6th APBn is located at Kathal in . and order in districts. It was raised on 2nd February, 1965. The personnel of this battalion are engaged in law and order duties besides manning six BOPs. 9th APBn is located at Barhampur in . It was raised on 14th September, 1970. 7th APBn is located at Charaikhola in Kokrajhar The personnel of this battalion are engaged in district. It was raised on 22nd August, 1986. The manning six BOPs, important railway bridges, other security and law and order duties.

44 district. It was raised on 6th June, 1987. The 10 th APBn is located at Kahilipara, Guwahati in personnel of this Battalion are engaged in law Kamrup Metropolitan district. It was raised on and order duties besides manning four BOPs. 23rd October, 1973. The personnel of this battalion are engaged in important security duties. 14th APBn is located at Daulasal in district. It was raised on 6th June, 1987. The 11th APBn is located at Dergaon in personnel of this battalion are engaged in district. It was raised on 29th November, law and order duties besides guarding vital 1978. The personnel of this battalion are installations. engaged in important security and law and order duties besides manning seven BOPs. Assam Police Task Force 1st Assam Police Task Force Battalion, 12 th APBn is located at Jamagurihat in Dakurvita: The 1st APTF Bn was raised on 2nd . It was raised on 14th January, January, 1984.The present sanction strength of 1980. The personnel of this battalion are the battalion is as follows engaged in manning two BOPs, guarding vital installations and other law and order duties. 2nd Assam Police Task Force Battalion, Lumding: The 2nd APTF Bn was raised on 12th 13 th APBn is located at Lilabari in Lakhimpur March,1984 The present sanction strength of

45 the battalion is as follows: is as follows:

3rd Assam Police Task Force Battalion, India Reserve Battalion (IRBn) Khajuabeel: The 3rd APTF Bn was raised on The increasing problem of law and order and 13th April,1984. The present sanction strength emerging internal scenario in the country have of the battalion is as follows: over the years put considerable pressure on Central Para Military Forces. Since raising of 4th Assam Police Task Force Battalion, Howly: C P M F o n l y t o m e e t a l m o s t r e g u l a r a n d i n c r e a s i n g The 4th APTF Bn was raised on 4th March,1985. demand of the States was diffi cult and put lots The present sanction strength of the battalion of strain on the administration of such units

46 deployment outside the state. The personnel of the IR Battalions are engaged in both operational as well as law and order duties.

The IRBn personnel are trained thoroughly in counter-insurgency and law and order situations. Such training programmes are conducted at the respective unit Headquarters. There are altogether eight IR Battalions in Assam.

The fi rst IR Battalion in Assam – called the 15th Assam Police (IR) Battalion – was originally raised in 1994 at Jamugurihat under the 12th Assam Police Battalion. In 2000, it was temporarily shifted to the old Police Reserve at Junitilla in , following which it was provided a permanent campus at Eraligool, close to the India-Bangladesh border in Karimganj in 2001. Apart from its various platoons being deployed in different districts, fi fty personnel of this Battalion are also posted at the second line of defence along the India- Bangladesh border in Karimganj.

The following are the other seven India Reserve Battalions with their year of raising and location:

16th AP(IR) Bn, located at Barmonipur in , was raised in 1994.

19th AP(IR) Bn, located at Tengakhat in , was raised in 2001.

20th AP (IR) Bn, located at Panbari in district, was raised in 2001. of CPMF, the Government of India in 1993 21st AP(IR) Bn, located at Katlicherra in decided to augment the strengths of the State , was raised in 2006. Governments. It is in this context that two India Reserve Battalions were raised in Assam with 22nd AP(IR) Bn, located at Likabali in Dhemaji the assistance of Central Government in 1994. district, was raised in 2006.

23rd AP(IR) Bn, located at Siloni in Karbi Anglong Though under administrative control of district, was raised in 2008. the Assam Police, the Central Government however reserves the fi rst right to call on 24th AP(IR) Bn, located at Charaimari in Baksa these Battalions as and when required for district, was raised in 2009.

47 Plantation Security Force elements and it was not to be used by the Assam has over 700 tea gardens owned by management of the tea companies for any different companies including MNCs. These private purpose. apart, the state also has several thousand homestead tea estates popularly known Recruitment of personnel to the APTSF was as Small Tea Growers. Way back in the late made by a Central Recruitment Body set 1980s and early 1990s, when different armed up by the Government of Assam in which a extremist groups began targeting the tea representative of the Indian Tea Association was industry, especially the big tea estates, for the co-opted. The operational control of the APTSF purpose of extorting money, the Government of was vested in the Director General of Police who Assam was prompted to raise a special force was empowered to delegate his powers to the to provide security to the industry that was a jurisdictional District Superintendents of Police. backbone of the state’s economy. Accordingly, The training, administration and discipline of the the Government of Assam and the Indian APTSF on the other hand were vested with the Tea Association signed a Memorandum of Director General, Civil Defence and Commandant Understanding giving birth to the Assam Tea General of the Home Guards, Government of Plantation Security Force (APTSF). Three Assam, who in turn was empowered to delegate primary objectives of raising the ATPSF were powers to the respective District Commandant - (i) Providing security to key Tea Garden of the Home Guards. personnel, (ii) Escorting cash of Tea Gardens, and (iii) Guarding various installations of the Though JCOs/NCOs, who were in immediate tea gardens. The Force, it was stated, was charge of the sections of the ATPSF at the exclusively raised for the security of the tea individual garden level, were to take orders from gardens against threats from the extremist the Garden management in respect of routine

48 functions, the standard operating procedure (AISF), its mandate being providing security made it clear that no disciplinary powers over requirements of not just the tea companies, any member of the APTSF was vested in the but also to various state and central sector garden management. Concomitant with the public sector undertakings operating in the duties entrusted, the members of the APTSF state. Thus, a sizeable section of the disbanded were to carry out their duties with arms APTSF personnel were absorbed in the AISF including sophisticated ones. The cost incurred which was created in 2008. in raising and maintaining the APTFS was, however, borne by the Indian Tea Association. Assam Industrial Security Force With the Assam Tea Plantation Security Force With the government taking an effective multi- proving to be a success, the Government of pronged approach and security forces making Assam in 2008 decided to wind up the ATPSF an all-out effort under the Unifi ed Command and raise a new force with wider scope of Structure, the overall law and order scenario responsibility. Thus, two battalions of the new showed marked improvement, and militancy force – Assam Industrial Security Force – began to gradually fade away. With most of were raised in 2008-09 for providing security to the militant groups including the larger section various industrial undertakings including the of leaders of the United Liberation Front of oil and gas installations of ONGC, in addition to Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front tea, with a combined strength of 2564 persons. of Bodoland (NDFB) coming forward to take part in peaceful negotiations, the Assam Tea Assam has a large number of installations Plantation Security Force was fi nally disbanded belonging to central sector PSUs like Oil and in 2007. But, recognizing the contribution of the Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGCL), Oil ATPSF, the Government of Assam created a new India Limited (OIL), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), force called Assam Industrial Security Force Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) etc. These apart, there are several state PSUs like Assam Gas Company, Assam Petrochemicals Ltd, Assam Tea Corporation etc., which too have a lot of security requirements. While the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is already in deployment in most of the central sector PSUs, the objective behind creation of the Assam Industrial Security Force is to supplement the gaps in the central sector PSUs in addition to provide security to the PSUs that belong to the state government.

Like the now defunct APTSF, deployment of the AISF too comes at a cost for the industrial houses and tea companies. The companies have to pay to utilise the services of the AISF that operates under the Director General of Civil Defence and Home Guards, a wing of the Assam Police.

49 50 Chapter 5 Assam Police Radio Organisation

51 52 t is a very important but low profi le Guwahati, Tezpur, Silchar, and Jorhat. wing within Assam Police organization. IThe organization keeps all the wings One state Message Control Centre (MCC) of Assam Police in communication with each is located in headed by one SP other through a wireless network. (Communication) who performs an important role in controlling and providing huge volume Initially set up as Assam Police Wireless of WT messages of Police as well as Civil Communication on 12th March, 1946 with 9 HF departments among the districts and Battalions stations and headquarter in Shillong, Assam with State headquarter. Police Radio Organization (APRO) supports the law and order enforcing agencies by providing The APRO training school was established in reliable, secure voice and data communication Shillong in 1948. It has now been functioning for assisting the police in effective prevention from its permanent campus at Jalukbari in and detection of crimes and criminals. It also Guwahati since 1975. The institution is headed provides communication anywhere in the state by a SP (Communication) rank offi cer. It provides in matters of public safety, law and order and training to newly-recruited Constables, ASIs disaster management. The headquarter of and SIs and trainees from different State Police the organization was shifted from Shillong to Communication Wing of India. Training on Guwahati in 1972 after the creation of Meghalaya Police Radio Communication courses in various state. grades and trades is imparted as per Syllabus Committee Report-1995 issued by Directorate of The APRO is headed by Additional DGP Coordination Police Wireless (DCPW), Ministry (Communication). Each of the district and of Home Affairs, Government of India for Police battalion level headquarters of the APRO is Wireless Institutions all over India. headed by an Inspector rank offi cer. Each of the district headquarter comprises of various Internship/Vocational Programme for students branches including Message Communication pursuing M.SC/BE/B.Tech courses in Electronics Centre, Cipher Cell, Radio Workshop, POLNET and Communication Engineering are conducted & CCTN Webmail, Fitter Workshop, District VHF regularly at APRO training school. (R/T) Control. The APRO training school has been empaneled as Wireless Stations are installed in all the PSs, Training Partner (TP) of Assam Skill Development Ops, BOPs and important PPs to provide Mission (ASDM). It is, therefore, entrusted to wireless communication services. Repeater conduct technical skill training courses as a Model Stations are also installed at 14 hilltop locations Training Centre of Electronics Sector Skill Council throughout the State for long distance R/T of India (ESSCI) in Guwahati in service of youths and data communication. These stations were of Assam. The Centre imparted skill training locally designed by APRO technicians. courses in CCTV installation, fi eld technician – computing & peripherals, fi eld technician –other There are six Range Headquarters headed home appliances, fi eld technician –UPS inverter, by an offi cer in the rank of Additional SP mobile phone hardware repair technician, (Communication) or Dy SP (Communication). refrigerator and AC technician and domestic data The Range Headquarters are based in Kokrajhar, entry operator.

53 54 Chapter 6 Border bound

55 56 he Assam Police Border Organisation was originally established in 1962 Tunder the Prevention of Infi ltration of Pakistanis (PIP) Scheme. It was then a part of the Special Branch, which in turn was headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police. The PIP scheme for which the Border Organisation was created in 1962 was intended at establishing a security screen to exercise physical check and control over the number, identity and movement of existing inhabitants in the immigrant settlements near the international border with then East Pakistan, thus making it impossible for any new entrant to go untraced or unnoticed. Under this scheme, an outpost was established over an area of 7 to 10 sq km, each having one Sub-Inspector and two unarmed Constables. Initially 52 such outposts were established in 1962. In 1964 however, the number of outposts was increased to 180 with an Assistant Inspector General of Police heading the whole Border wing.

In 1974, it was separated from Special Branch and converted into a full-fl edged Assam Police wing headed by a DIG (Border). Meanwhile, after

57 the liberation of Bangladesh, the PIP Scheme Security Force. was renamed as Prevention of Infi ltration of (iv) Monitoring of developments along the Foreigners (PIF) Scheme. The head of the inter-state borders. Border Organisation was elevated to the rank (v) Maintenance of law and order, prevention of an IGP in 1985, and subsequsently to that and detection of crimes, detection and of an Additional Director General of Police in deportation of illegal foreigners settled 1997. in the riverine areas and char areas and trying to infi ltrate through riverine routes. The main tasks of the Assam Police Border Organisation, which currently has a strength of The deployment of police personnel under the a little over 4,000 personnel, both armed and Assam Police Border Organisation on the other unarmed, can be listed as follows: hand is done to cover a wide range of areas. (i) Detection and deportation of illegal Assam Police Border personnel are posted migrants. in all districts of the state for detection and deportation of illegal foreigners and to prevent (ii) Prevention of entry of illegal foreigners them from entering Assam from across the from across the international border by way international border with Bangladesh. of maintaining a second line of defence along the India-Bangladesh international In March 1999, the Assam Police Border border. Organisation was entrusted the task of (iii) Joint patrolling of the India-Bangladesh establishing a number of second line of international border with the Border defence Border Outposts behind those of

58