the BSF along the -Bangladesh border with valid documents. in order to provide additional vigil and trace infi ltrators who might have sneaked in despite Assam shares about 245 km international the existing mechanism. Accordingly, a number boundary with Bangladesh and 280 km with of BOPs were set up, which has strengthened Bhutan. The state also shares about 2743 the mechanism to prevent any kind of trans- km inter-state boundary with seven states border movement. The Assam Police Border - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Organisation also maintains a number of Patrol Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and West Posts in , South Salmara and , Bengal. Assam Police Border Organisation the districts that share international boundary has a number of Border Outposts (BOPs) along with Bangladesh. In addition, Assam Police these inter-state boundaries. The primary task Border Organisation personnel also conduct of these BOPs is to prevent encroachment by joint border patrolling with BSF personnel on the neighbouring states, apart from protecting a regular basis. It also has a number of Watch lives and property of the Posts in various infi ltration-prone areas of 20 residing along inter-state boundary areas. districts. There is also a Border Intelligence Team in each The Assam Police Border Organisation district which collects various intelligence also maintains six Immigration Check inputs from the fi eld for onward dispatch. The Posts (ICP) in Dhubri and Karimganj – two operational control of the Border Police in each districts sharing international boundary with district is vested with the Superintendents of Bangladesh – to check passenger traffic into Police of the respective district.

59 60 Chapter 7 On river route

61 62 he origin of River Police in Assam can in , Pandu RPOP in be traced back to as early as 1905 Police Commissionerate, Chanderdinga RPOP, Twhen Assam was clubbed with Eastern , Majeralga RPOP and Aye RPOP Bengal by the British government to constitute – both in district. a new province with Dhaka as capital. It also saw certain signifi cant changes in the Police Assam shares about 245 km of international administration, which included creation of a boundary with Bangladesh, of which 110 km ‘Railway and River Police’. While a report for comprises of rivers and riverine areas. Given formation of a River Police was prepared by E C the frequent incidents of illegal trans-border Stuart Baker, then DIG of CID in 1910, he himself movement of people as well as contraband was given additional charge of the Railway and items, the River Police is vested with the River Police immediately after it was created in following responsibilities: the next couple of years. Though a River Police district was formally constituted in Assam  To prevent and detect crime in the in 1915, River Police never received proper riverine route and char areas of the river attention for several decades except the formal Brahmaputra. constitution of a River Police District in 1915.  To maintain law & order in riverine route It was only in 1960 that the River Police and char areas of the river Brahmaputra. Organisation of Assam Police actually came into being. Constituted under provisions of  To keep vigilance on extremist activities Rule 58 of the Assam Police Manual, Part /anti-social elements and smuggling VI, it was later rechristened as River Police of goods in the riverine route and char Organization in 1979 and made a separate areas of the river Brahmaputra. River Police district covering , Kamrup and Darrang districts. There are now four River  To prevent and detect illegal infi ltration Police Stations in Assam, these being Goalpara through the riverine routes of the river River Police Station (Pancharatna) in Goalpara Brahmaputra from Bangladesh. district, Sualkuchi River Police Station in Kamrup, River Police Station in Sonitpur There are several rivers through which the district, and Biswanath Ghat River Police international boundary between India and Station in . Apart from these, Bangladesh pass in Assam. They include 61 there are also seven River Police Outposts – km of the Brahmaputra in Dhubri and South Buraburi (Mahamaya) RPOP in Dhubri district, Salmara districts, and about three km of the Nagarbera RPOP in , Beki RPOP Kushiara river in .

63 64 Chapter 8 Civil Defence & Home Guards

65 66 he history of Civil Defence in Assam the Director General of Civil Defence and Home dates back to time of the Second World Guards, include (i) serving as an auxiliary to TWar which necessitated protection the police and assisting in maintenance of of the civil population during air raids, Civil internal security, (ii) assisting the community Defence was introduced in Assam in 1941 as in any emergency like air raids, fi re, fl oods, the War began moving in to the province. It epidemics, etc, (iii) assisting the administration was, however, in 1968 that Parliament passed in promoting communal harmony, (iv) the Civil Defence Act, extending to the whole participating in socio-economic and welfare of India, for affording protection to any person, activities etc. property or place against any hostile attack. Civil Defence was fi rst activated in a big way in The Assam Home Guards is divided into three post-Independence Assam in the wake of the divisions and 14 districts with fi ve urban wings. Chinese aggression of 1962. Activities of Civil The sanctioned strength of Home Guards Defence became more prominent in the wars volunteers in Assam is a little over 23,000, with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. and about 10,000 of them are deployed under the Police for Law and Order duty while about The Civil Defence Organisation is part of 5,000 are engaged for security duty in other the Assam Police, with a separate Director agencies. General commanding both Civil Defence and the Home Guards. The District Magistrate is There are four armed Home Guards Battalions the Controller of Civil Defence at the district under the Director General of Civil Defence level, while a Deputy Controller holds charge and Home Guards. These include two Assam of 17 Civil Defence towns like Guwahati, Special Reserve Force Battalions (located at Tezpur, , , , , Barjar in and Karagaon in Karbi Anglong , Duliajan, Namrup, , respectively) and two Battalions of the Assam Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Dhubri and . Industrial Security Force (located at Bahbari in There are altogether over 27,000 trained Civil Tezpur and Chabua in Dibrugarh respectively). Defence volunteers across the state who are While the ASRF battalions are deployed under required to come out at times of natural and the Police for Law and Order and security- man-made calamities. related duties under operational control of the DGP, Assam, the AISF battalions are deployed The history of Home Guards too dates back to for providing to tea estates and other private the time of the Second World War.India’s fi rst and public sector industries of the state. Home Guards force was created in December 1946 in Mumbai to assist the police in Central Training Institute controlling civil disturbances and communal The Home Guards and Civil Defence personnel riots. The Home Guards was formed in are imparted training at the Central Training Assam in 1962 along with several other states Institute of Civil Defence and Home Guards, following a Central government advisory in the located at Panikhaiti near Guwahati. It also wake of the Chinese aggression. The broad role serves as a training centre for volunteers from of the Home Guards, which functions under Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram too.

67 68 Chapter 9 Fire fighters

69 70 he Fire and Emergency Services department was formed in the year T1956 when Assam government took over and merged the fi re stations of Municipal Boards of Shillong and under the name and style of ‘State Fire Service Organisation’.

The organisation was amalgamated with Assam Police Department with effect from 1st May, 1959. It was then headed by an SP rank offi cer known as the Superintendent of Police-cum-Fire Service Advisor. The state government later created a new post of Director, State Fire Service Organization as the head of the organisation. The department is headed by an Additional DGP rank offi cer designated as Director of Fire and Emergency Service, Assam. The department is under administrative control of Home (B) Department, . It is governed by the Fire and Emergency Services (Amendment) Act, 2012 and the Fire and Emergency Services Rules, 1989.

The department shoulders the responsibility of safeguarding lives and property in the event

71 of a disaster including breaking out of fi re. State Disaster and Response Force (SDRF) has been tagged with the Fire and Emergency Services Organisation.

The Department is mandated to respond swift to all types of disaster and emergency situations both natural and manmade, caused by fi re, earthquake, landslide, fl ood and erosion, drought etc.

The department also conducts public awareness seminars and organizes public meetings; holds mock evacuation drill with participation of people. It ensures compliance of Fire and Disaster Safety

72 73 74 rules in all public, private and commercial buildings. It uses modern technology in all forms besides inducting skilled fi re fi ghters.

The department is entrusted with the task of carrying out inspection of all high-rise buildings and other establishments and assess their fi re preparedness and effi cacy of fi refi ghting equipment installed by the owners of these buildings. The

Three companies of SDRF function along with Fire and Emergency Service across the state discharging their duty at the time of man-made as well as natural disasters.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has details on steps and procedures to be followed while tackling fi re and emergencies. The SOP is aimed at helping offi cers and personnel of the department in handling emergency and disaster situations in a systematic way.

In this age of social media, the Fire and Emergency Services department has created Facebook and twitter account with a purpose of sharing its important activities with media, general public and other departments on its important activities, achievements, updates on events etc. It has been creating campaigns to promote Fire and Emergency Services among the people of the state in preventing and mitigating fi re.

75 76 Chapter 10 Special Forces

77 78 Assam Police Commando Battalion The Assam Commando Battalion was raised on January 18, 1996, as an elite force intended at combating the insurgency problem in Assam. The headquarters of the Battalion was fi rst temporarily set up at Kahilipara, in the 4th Assam Police Battalion campus.

The personnel of this unit were initially selected from different Battalions and District Executive Forces of Assam Police. Altogether 489 personnel from the rank of Constable to Deputy Superintendent of Police were sent to Commando Training Centre, Police Recruits Training Centre at Jahankhelam, Punjab, in 1995 for undergoing two-month commando training with sophisticated weapons and advanced tactics. Later, several batches of younger Assam Police personnel who underwent Police Commando Instructor Course / Police Ranger Commando Course at the Training Centre in Maneswar, Haryana, were inducted to the battalion to phase out the ageing personnel.

In 2000 Assam Commando Battalion was shifted to Mandakata in North Guwahati, which has also become the nerve-centre of specialised commando training of the Assam Police. The Commando Battalion personnel are the toughest among all across the Assam Police family, and undergo rigorous training and upgrading of skills on a regular basis in order to remain prepared to fi ght terrorists.

The Assam Police Commando Battalion has three units – (i) Black Panthers is an elite commando force quipped with latest weapons

79 and technology for anti-terrorist operations Police. In 1980, when the 5th Assam Police and VVIP protection; (ii) Assam Police Rangers, Battalion was shifted from Guwahati to Sontila raised in 2012, is a force used targeted team in , the Mounted Police was operations against militants. The Rangers transferred to the 4th Assam Police Battalion, include around 120 police personnel specially also located in Kahilipara. There is a separate trained for counter insurgency operations; (iii) Riding School in the Police Training College Veerangana, comprising about 100 women in Dergaon where both cadets and horses are commandos, was raised in 2012 to tackle imparted training. crimes against women. The object and purpose of Mounted Police are two-fold – (i) Equitation training of Cadet The Commando Battalion consists of a number of Assault Groups. Each of the groups is headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police rank offi cer.

Some of the Commando Battalion training facilities include parade grounds, one 32- item obstacle course, one artifi cial rock climbing wall, one four-lane driving training simulator, one bomb fi ring range, one small arms fi ring range, and adequate swimming facilities.

There is a whole series of training courses in the Commando Battalion campus at Mandakata, which include VIP Security course, Counter-Insurgency Commando course, Counter-Insurgency & Jungle Warfare Course, Un-armed Combat Course, Anti-Terrorist & VIP Protection Commando Course, PSO Course, Weapons & Tactics Course, and Commando Course with other .

Mounted Police A Mounted Platoon of the Assam Police was created in 1964, purely on a temporary basis, with its headquarter located at the 5th Assam Police Battalion in Kahilipara, Guwahati. It was only in 1970 that the personnel comprising the platoon were given permanent status. In 1973, the platoon was upgraded with increased strength and was rechristened as Mounted

80 Sub-Inspectors, Deputy SP Trainees and IPS and large public gatherings also constitute Probationers, and (ii) Deployment in operational purpose of the Mounted Police, while there duties and Law and Order duties, patrolling, is also provision for deploying them in traffi c ceremonial guard and sports. control and management. These apart, Mounted Police is also assigned ceremonial The Mounted Police has been created mainly duties and any other duty assigned by the for crowd control, management and dispersal Director General of Police, Assam. Equestrian of disorderly mobs during processions, being also a major sports activity, this Mounted demonstrations, rallies and dharnas. Area Police have participated in several equestrian patrolling, like in river banks, ghats, parks, meets held in different parts of the country open green spaces, carnival, sporting events representing Assam as well as Assam Police.

81 Special Task Force The Special Task Force (STF), Assam was conceived to be an elite force of Assam Police with professional acumen in respect of precision operation, fi tness, quality investigation, orientation and expertise on technical gadgets to perform exceptionally dangerous, high risk operations.

In addition to the above, the mandate of the STF is to conduct investigation of cases of complicated nature and far reaching consequences which also includes investigation of special organized crimes. The STF is headed by a senior police offi cer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police who is assisted by other manpower comprises of the Ops Cell, Investigation Cell, Tech Cell, Surveillance Cell, the Logistic Cell and the STF Police Station.

The STF Police Station was notifi ed on 4th October, 2008, with Headquarters at the Offi ce of the ADGP (STF) with jurisdiction throughout the State of Assam, for the purposes of enquiry and investigation of offences.

The Tech Cell with data mining capabilities is its special feature. The Tech Cell is the main intelligence and analysis cell for predicting trends and the nodal wing for secret documentation and for all things technical. A highly specialized Interrogation Unit and a Cyber Lab are also additional components for the STF.

The Special Task Force, Assam came into existence in July 2008. Special Unit for SMART Policing In tune with the Government’s vision of a SMART Police force by way of modernizing police personnel on the ground, Assam Police has raised and groomed 150 male and 50

82 women cops as its Smart Protection Unit (SPU). The unit was engaged during the visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan, the visit of the Hon’ble President of Bangladesh, the All India State Legal Services Meet and the visit of the JPC. The SPU has received specialized training from Assam Police Commando Battalion at CIJW School, Mandakata. It is a matter of pride that the newly raised SPU has been conferred with the FICCI Smart Policing Awards, 2018.

83 84 Chapter 11 Force multiplier

85 86 he National Police Commission remaining four women resigned at early stages. appointed by the Government of India Tin 1977, had in its recommendations in The fi rst all-women police station in Assam 1980 called for giving women a better role in was put into operation on October 2, 1993 at the police forces, especially in areas related to Panbazar (Guwahati) with two Sub-Inspectors crime prevention and investigation. ‘Let women Dipali Buragohain and Aruna Das, one Assistant police share all policing duties performed Sub-Inspector Purnima Duwarah, six women by male offi cers,’ the Commission had said, Constables and two women recommending recruitment of larger numbers personnel. of women police, particularly to ranks of Assistant Sub-Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors. Comprising total of 23 personnel – one Inspector, one Sub-Inspector, 12 Constables Assam Police, however, was ahead of times, and eight Home Guards personnel – the All- and had started recruitment of women way Women Police Station receives numerous back in 1969. The fi rst batch recruited that year cases on a daily basis, ranging from rape, comprised of nine women, which included one dowry, threatening, torture and Protection of Assistant Sub-Inspector Renu Dutta Phukan, Child from Sexual Offences (POCSO), to name a and eight Women Police Constables - Kusum few. Additionally, the All-Women Police Station Rani Mahanta, Jinnat Ara Begum, Manashi also provides counseling to distressed women Dasgupta, Numali Daimari, Draupadi Mahilary, whenever required. Dipa Kakati, Ahalya Malakar and Jogeswari Devi. Of them Renu Dutta Phukan went up the More women ladder and retired as a Deputy Superintendent The Government of India had in 2015 of Police while Kusum Rani Mahanta retired recommended increasing women’s as a Sub-Inspector. Jinnat Ara Begum retired representation to 33 per cent of the total as Head Constable, Manashi Dasgupta and strength of the police forces. Keeping this in Numali Daimary retired in the same rank, the view, Assam Police has been making its best

87 efforts to recruit more women in order to fulfi l make police stations more ‘people-friendly’. this requirement. The Government of Assam While fi ve police stations in Guwahati city – has fi xed 30 per cent reservation for women Panbazar, Bharalumukh, , Fatasil Ambari in Assam Police, and accordingly, the strength and Jalukbari – have been equipped with brand of women in Assam Police has been gradually new ‘reception rooms’ in the fi rst phase in 2018, increasing. There are a little over 3500 women there are plans to extend this to more police in the Assam Police, including both Armed and stations across the state in the years to come. Un-armed branches. Among them about 230 are offi cers, which includes one IGP, one DIG Entirely run by women Constables to help and 11 SPs. and guide anyone who visits a police station with any kind of problem, the smiling face Special Reception Rooms in PS of a woman Constable almost immediately While police stations are generally perceived removes the fear, inhibition and hesitation that as unwelcoming bastions of male dominance, most people have while approaching a police Assam Police, in an attempt to do away with this station. impression, set up special Reception Rooms in select police stations of Guwahati. Accordingly, Crime Against Women a bunch of young women Constables posted In order to tackle crime involving women, the in different locations were specially picked up Assam Police set up a State Women’s and trained in soft skills how to talk to people Cell headed by an SSP of the CID in distress, how to make visitors to the police for monitoring and co-ordinating station feel at ease, and even just offer them a investigation of cases of crimes glass of water and let them know that a baideo against women and immoral traffi c in (sister) is there in the police station to help. The 1994. Under the direct supervision of training is part of Assam Police’s initiative to the DIG (CID), this Cell has been doggedly

88 supervising all the important cases all over the state involving crime against women. While the ‘Crimes in India Report’ published annually by the National Crimes Record Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, has placed Assam among the fi rst few states where crimes against women are high, the State Women’s Cell in the Assam Police CID remains busy in thorough supervision and constant monitoring and progress of investigation of offences like dowry death, rape, immoral traffi cking in women.

CID has also successfully investigated of a number of cases of physical violence against women in the past few years. Realising its commitment to the society, this State Women’s Cell also works towards curbing various social menaces like prostitution and dowry deaths. The Cell also conducts

89 regular raids in hotels, restaurants, private houses, beauty parlours etc., in the process arresting a number of offenders every year.

This Cell in 1997 set up a Family Counselling Centre at the CID headquarters, which is run in consultation with the Social Welfare Department of the Government of Assam. This Centre has a Counsellor, who provides counselling to estranged couples after thorough case study. The main objective of the Counselling Centre is to reduce family and marital disputes, atrocities on women, alcoholism, etc. Veerangana A few months after an incident of molestation of a woman in the heart of Guwahati rocked the entire nation, the Assam Police in December 2012 introduced a special woman commando force called ‘Veerangana’ to tackle the growing trend of harassment of women in the city. The force comprises of 100 women constables chosen from different units of the Assam Police. They have undergone rigorous training in martial arts, unarmed combat, motorcycle riding, arms drill and silent drill for three months at the Police Training College, Dergaon, before Veerangana was formally launched. Sixteen of them were also sent for initial training in Tamil Nadu.

Assam Police’s Veerangana incidentally is the fi rst female police commando unit in the entire country. Specially instructed to act swiftly against eve teasers or anyone trying to harm a woman’s modesty, the Veerangana commandos are also trained on women’s rights.

The concept of a special women’s force emerged from the greatest women warriors of India – from Mula Gabharu and Kanaklata of Assam to Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Ahalyabai of Holkar - who fought bravely and sacrifi ced their lives to protect the society. The Veerangana ideal commends physical

90 91 92 training and active deployment of the body in combat, with the strength and effi cacy of the Veeranganas being seen in many respects as similar to those of the warring goddess Durga or Kali, her victory over threatening enemies corresponding to the goddess’ punishment of evil demons. The Veeranganas, thus, conjoin physical prowess and moral strength in a startling counter paradigm of Indian womanhood.

Trained for the worst case scenario, the Veeranganas can handle both lethal and non lethal weapons, with their main aim being to make a woman feel safe and secure under any and every circumstance as she steps out of her home. Confi dent and quick in refl ex, the Veeranganas scan bars, restaurants and other places in Guwahati city every evening, on the look-out for unruly elements and try and avoid any unpleasant incident. They also patrol the streets, often also conducting surprise check of both private vehicles as well as public transport.  A Cyber Training Lab has been set up in the CID headquarters to Placed under the command and control of the track and identify Internet crimes Commandant, 4th AP Battalion, Kahilipara, the against women. Veeranganas are, however, under the disposal  Dial-100 facility has been of the Police Commissionerate, Guwahati for introduced in Assam Police for tackling crimes against women in the city. quick receipt of information The Veeranganas have already made quite a related to crimes against women. difference to the overall security and safety of  A Standard Operating Procedure women in the Assam capital, and have given has been prepared by CID in women the confi dence to go out anywhere and the state language and made anytime they want. applicable in all police stations in order to take immediate steps in Gender Sensitization cases of crimes against women. With increase in crimes against women  One-stop Centres have been becoming a nation-wide phenomenon, Assam established in fi ve districts Police has, from time to time, organised with support from the central special programmes to sensitize its personnel government, and Women Helpline across the ranks and irrespective of sex on 181 has been introduced. Gender issues and Women’s Rights. While Source = Assam Assembly question of over 1,500 police personnel from above the 24.9.2018. rank of Assistant Sub-Inspectors were trained on Women’s Rights and Children’s Rights in

93 94 a span of two years in 2002-03 under Project Aashwas, Assam Police has been conducting regular training modules on ‘Gender Sensitisation on Violence against Women and New Laws for Change’ for its personnel at the Police Training College, Dergaon. Reputed NGOs like North East Network have been roped in from time to time to impart such training, with police personnel belonging to the ranks of constable, sub-inspectors and inspectors taking part in these programmes.

The training comprises of sessions on understanding gender and patriarchy, violence against women from a gendered perspective, discussion on Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Criminal Law Amendments Act 2013, role of the police on implementing the Guidelines & Protocols for survivors/victims of sexual violence, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013 and Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act 2013, witch hunting and traffi cking of women in Assam. Discussions on the above issues were carried out with group exercises, presentations by the participants, and fi lm screening etc. The overall objective has been to broaden the understanding of the police personnel on Violence Against Women from a gender and women’s rights perspective.

Such training programmes are also intended at creating focused understanding on issues of domestic violence, witch-hunting, traffi cking women in confl ict situation and role of police. Efforts have also been made towards achieving gender mainstreaming through convergence of various departments and agencies to tackle crimes and violence against women. Training programme are also organised from time to time in collaboration with Bureau of Police Research and Development and Impulse NGO Network to update the Assam Police personnel in various aspects of traffi cking in persons.

95 96 Chapter 12 Training Institutes

97 98 ssam Police has fi ve major training institutions, of which four are located at Dergaon in Golaghat Adistrict. The oldest among them is the Police Training College, established in 1948. Originally located at Salonibari near Tezpur, it was shifted to Dergaon on April 1, 1949. The place where the Police Training College was set up was an abandoned airfi eld of the Air Transport Command of the Allied Army, from where aircrafts of the 3rd Combat Cargo operated, airlifting among other items, gasoline and pipes to Myanmar, the latter for laying a pipeline along the Stilwell Road to transport petroleum from Digboi refi nery to the war front.

The Police Training College, initially set up to offer training facilities to police personnel of various ranks, catered to the needs of the police forces of the entire North-eastern Region until the North East Police Academy (NEPA) was set up at Barapani, near Shillong. D C Dutt, an IPS offi cer of the British

99 100 era, was its founder director. The College imparts training for a few weeks to IPS Probationers allotted to the Assam-Meghalaya Joint Cadre after they pass out of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad. It also provides basic training to the newly recruited Assam Police (APS) offi cers, Sub Inspectors of the Unarmed Branch, Assistant Sub Inspectors of the Unarmed Branch and Women Constables. It also runs in-service training courses as well as pre-promotion cadre courses for Unarmed Branch offi cers and the Women Police. It has a Horse Riding School and a Motor Driving and Maintenance Training School. Every year about 600 police personnel are trained in the college. Recently, the college has started a training course for the Enforcement Inspectors of the Transport Department of the Government of Assam. Assam Police Academy The Police Training College at Dergaon is being upgraded into a state-of-the-art training institution for police personnel and rechristened as Assam Police Academy. The foundation stone of the upcoming Assam Police Academy was laid by chief minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. Being equipped with a modern curriculum and training modules, the institution will help in building the trainees as quality human resource. Envisaged as world-class training institution, the Assam Police Academy will not

101 Golden Treasury

The Assam Police Museum located in the Police Training College, Dergaon, which was established in 2002, is a treasure-house of a collection of equipment, dresses, hats, battons, documents, trophies and other items which tell the story of the glorious past of Assam Police. While documents preserved include a few district order books of undivided dating back to the year 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1884, equipment on display include a Switzerland- made Paillard Bolex 16mm movie camera with three lenses said to have been procured in the 1960s, and several VHF Trans-receiver sets that were used till the 1970s and 1980s.

102 only cater to Assam Police personnel, but also hand functions under the aegis of the APTC. meet advanced training needs of police forces This workshop carries out minor repairs of all of the other Northeastern states, apart from kinds of arms used by the police. reaching out to other states and neighbouring countries. CIAT Schools As per the scheme under the Ministry of Recruit Training School Home Affairs, Government of India during The Recruit Training School, also located at the 11th Plan Period (2002-2007), approved Dergaon, was established in 1973. It imparts for establishment of Counter-Insurgency and training to Constables of the Unarmed Anti-Terrorism (CIAT) Schools, and four such Branch of the Assam Police. Besides regular schools were approved for Assam. The basic courses of drill and discipline and armed objective behind setting up these special training, it also extends courses on laws of training schools is to improve the effi ciency of the country, human rights and behaviour. its personnel engaged in combating the malady of insurgency/terrorism. Armed Police Training Centre The Armed Police Training Centre (APTC) was The Assam Police organisation has set up established on April 1, 1974 in the 5th Assam three such schools so far and imparted training Police Battalion campus at Kahilipara, Guwahati, to nearly 10,000 police personnel till the end of and B Barthakur, IPS, was its fi rst Commandant. 2018. The APTC was, however, shifted to Dergaon in 1977. The APTC provides basic training to The three Counter-Insurgency and Anti- the armed personnel of different wings of the Terrorism Schools in Assam are located in Assam Police. Besides routine courses of the campuses of the Police Training College drill and discipline, it also imparts training in at Dergaon, 8th Assam Police Battalion at unarmed combat, boxing and in the handling Abhayapuri in and the 23rd of various kinds of fi re arms and weapons, fi eld Assam Police (IR) Battalion at Siloni in Karbi craft and tactics. Police forces of other states Anglong. of the region also occasionally sends batches of trainees to the APTC. The Central Arms Repair While the CIAT School at Dergaon is under School (CARS) of the Assam Police on the other administrative control of the Principal of

103 104 the Police Training College, Commandants of the 8th APBn and 23rd APBn are the supervisory heads of the other two schools respectively. Training in all the three CIAT Schools began in 2010. The administrative support is provided by the host battalion and the Commandant of the host Battalion.

Courses in these CIAT Schools are comprehensive and cover, among others, modules like Tactics, Field Survey, Map reading, Handling explosives, Anti-Insurgency, Firing practices, Jungle warfare etc.

A single batch usually consists of 80 to 100 jawans drawn from various Units, Battalions and DEFs. The CIAT Schools have all the required facilities and infrastructure in tune with the purpose of their establishment – to hone the skill of Assam Police personnel in carrying out counter insurgency and anti-terrorism operations and investigations.

Since the CIAT training mostly comprise of outdoor activities, the CIAT Schools do not require large-scale permanent constructions, and function in temporary infrastructure provided available in the three locations mentioned above. The Ministry of Home Affairs provides funds for establishment, maintenance and equipment upgradation of the CIAT Schools. The Bureau of Police Research & Development also extends some administrative support to these schools.

105 106 Chapter 13 Wings to fight corruption & economic offences

107 Children participants of painting competition organis by Assam Police during Vigilan Week celebrati

Assam Police organises painting competition for children as part of celebration of Vigilance Week.

108 BIEO & CM’s Vigilance Cell The Bureau of Investigation (Economic Offences) of the Assam Police, commonly referred to as BIEO, was established in November 1975 with the sole objective of taking steps to prevent various economic offences.

Though headed by a senior Assam Police offi cer the of the rank of an Additional DGP, offi cers of the sed Bureau are also drawn from other departments nce like taxation, excise, transport and forest. on. The Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell, Assam, on the other hand was created in 1984. Its sole objective is to conduct enquiry and investigation into certain special and sensitive offences committed by State Government offi cials under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 (Amended in 1988), offences under Sections 406 to 409 IPC, 417 to 420 IPC, 417 to 477(A) IPC and also under Offi cial Secrets Act, 1923, only when referred to by the Chief Minister of Assam.

While the Chief Minister of Assam is the functional head of this Cell, the DGP is its administrative head. Headed by a Superintendent of Police, the Chief Minister’s

109 Special Vigilance Cell has its jurisdiction Vigilance Commissioner was created by the throughout the State of Assam. The offi ce State Government in 1964. of the SP, Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell, Assam, was declared as a Police Station During this period, the Anti-Corruption branch, (Special Vigilance Police Station, Assam) by the which used to be under control of the Dy. I.G., CID Government of Assam in February 1984. Rules was placed under the Vigilance Commissioner. defi ne that offi cers of the Cell will function The post of the State Vigilance Commissioner under orders of the Chief Minister, Assam, but was held by retired Judges of the High Court remain under the administrative control of the till 1981. ACB was declared as Police Station in Director General of Police, Assam. the year 1975.

Vigilance and Anti-Corruption branch A Separate Directorate of Vigilance & Anti- Anti-Corruption branch (ACB) of the State Corruption was established in 1983 which headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police was headed by an I.G.P. Rank offi cer. As per came into existence in the year 1946 under government notifi cation issued in June, 1991, overall control and supervision of D I G, CID, offi cers under the Director General of Vigilance Assam. One post of S.P. Anti-Corruption & Anti-Corruption, Assam, not below the rank branch was created in the year 1959 . of Inspector of Police were authorized to Consequent upon the recommendations investigate an offence punishable under the of the “Santhanam Committee” a post of Prevention of Corruption, Act, 1988.

110 Vigilance Work of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption will inform On specifi c direction from the Govt. of Assam, the Commissioner and Secretary Political (Home & Political Department) enquiry and Department, Assam the result of such investigation is taken as mentioned below: investigation.

 On receipt of any complaint that a public  If he/she is of the view that a prosecution servant had exercised or refrained from should be launched and sanction for exercising his powers for dishonest and prosecution is required to be issued in the corrupt purposes. name of the Governor, he will forward the full report of the investigation to the Chief  On receipt of any complaint of corruption, Secretary, Assam, for processing further misconduct, lack of integrity or indulgences action by the Political Department. in malpractices or misdemeanor on the part of public servants including members of  If any authority other than Governor is the All India Services in connection with the competent to sanction prosecution, the affairs of the State Government. Director of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption, Assam with the approval of the Secretary Anti-Corruption Work Political Department, Assam, will forward to  Where cases are registered and investigated such authority the investigation report for by the Anti-Corruption branch, the Director sanction for prosecution.

Children participants of the painting competition organised by Assam Police during Vigilance Week celebration.

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