In a major push to revamp the state’s law enforcement system, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping set of reforms aimed at boosting the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the police force. The announcement was made during a high-level Superintendents of Police (SPs) conference held at the Lachit Borphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, Golaghat district. At the heart of the reforms is a significant overhaul of Assam’s prosecution system. Chief Minister Sarma revealed that the government will strengthen the office of the Director of Prosecution, a move aimed at speeding up criminal investigations and improving the conviction rate in courts. “Our goal is not only to solve crimes quickly but to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice effectively. A strong prosecution system is vital for that,” he said. The day-long conference brought together key stakeholders in Assam’s security framework, including Home Minister (Prisons, Home Guards & Civil Defence), Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, DGP Harmeet Singh, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr KK Dwivedi. Their discussions focused on strengthening field-level coordination and aligning investigative practices with modern judicial expectations.
Reviewing recent achievements, CM Sarma lauded the police for dismantling several criminal networks. These included an ivory smuggling ring operating near the Assam-Bhutan border, a rhino poaching gang active across 11 districts, and a series of drug trafficking networks. Investigators also exposed a fake SIM card racket in Morigaon, arrested a cyber fraud syndicate in Sonitpur, and intercepted a counterfeit currency operation. These successes, Sarma said, reflect the determination of the Assam Police to stay ahead of criminal activity, but he cautioned that more needs to be done to institutionalise excellence. “We must move from isolated success stories to a system that consistently delivers results,” he said. Alongside prosecutorial reform, the government will introduce advanced training modules and increase the use of technology in investigations. Body cameras, digital evidence management, and integrated crime databases are among the tools expected to become standard issue in coming months. “Technology is no longer optional in policing—it’s essential,” the Chief Minister noted.
The SPs’ conference is part of a regular series initiated by Sarma’s administration, the first of which was held in Kaziranga in June 2021. These conferences are designed to assess the force’s performance, discuss challenges, and set goals for the year ahead. By focusing on systemic improvements and modern tools, Assam’s government aims to reshape the state’s police force into one that is not only efficient and tech-savvy but also more responsive to the concerns of its citizens. As Sarma put it, “Law enforcement is not just about enforcing the law—it’s about earning the people’s trust.”
