Police stations in Assam need to be made more people-centric: Himanta

Guwahati, Sep 7 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said with militancy-related incidents decreasing in the state, police stations have to be transformed into more people-centric places.

Sarma also emphasised the role of Thana Level Nagarik Committees (TLNC) in assisting police personnel in public service responsibilities.

“For the last three decades, Assam was fighting insurgency. Counter-insurgency measures were the focus points for the police. I won’t say that insurgency has been completely wiped out, but incidents are coming down. The police stations have to be transformed into more people-centric places,” he said.

The CM was speaking at the first state-level conclave here of TLNCs (citizen committees) from all 307 police stations in the state.

Maintaining that the long and difficult nature of duty of police personnel tend to make them tough in their regular dealings, he said the role of TLNCs in helping the personnel to engage in civil work can also ease some stress.

Sarma said positivity created within the society can lead to slow but permanent social transformation for the better, and the these committees can help the police force in discharging the public service responsibilities entrusted on them.

“Policing has two aspects — administration of criminal justice and public service. The first aspect is addressed by the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita. Criminal justice, criminal investigation, filing of chargesheet are dealt by the OCs; the TLNCs don’t have anything to do in this regard.

“They (the committees) have to maintain good relations between the police station and the public. They can tell the people about the positive initiatives taken by the police. Independence Day and Republic Day can be celebrated in the police stations to increase public interface,” he said.

Sarma also stressed on the responsibility of the TLNCs in crime prevention through creating awareness, like in cases of crimes against women and human trafficking.

The chief minister pointed out that the police stations deal with numerous responsibilities like giving permission for holding fairs, festivals, issuing various certificates to residents under its jurisdictions, and the TLNCs can play a positive role in quick disposal of such services.

“Crime rates have been coming down. Chargesheets in cases where forensic opinion is not needed are being filed within time. We are also improving our forensic science wing so that chargesheets in such cases can also be filed within three months,” he said.

Sarma, who also looks after the Home Department, said steps are being taken to ease procedures in criminal cases, like allowing inquest of bodies to be conducted in presence of any gazetted officer instead of authorising only Assam Civil Service officials for the purpose.

The state government is also working on doing away with the requirement of post-mortem for victims trampled to death by wild elephants.

Sarma said the new TLNCs will start functioning from October, and the 12-member committees will play an important role in acting as a bridge between the public and the police.

They will function as per the details laid down in a notification issued on August 27, he said, asking the police authorities to come out with a handbook with the rules.

He said the first meeting of the new TLNCs will be held on October 2, and there will be total of four annual sittings of the committees, all to be scheduled on public holidays for convenience of the members.

The six non-government members, including the chairman, of the TLNCs will receive honorarium for the four scheduled meetings, with provision for emergency meetings or more frequent sittings.

“The superintendents of police (SPs) will meet the chairmen of the TLNCs once every six months and the entire committee once a year,” Sarma added.