Assam Police

Organizational structure

Assam Police comes under direct control of Department of Home Affairs, Government of Assam. The Assam Police is headed by a Director General of Police (DGP). The current DGP of the Assam Police is Harmeet Singh, IPS

• Assam police forces are organized into police ranges, headed by an inspector general deputy inspector general, who controls several police districts.
• The police district is the fulcrum of state police activity and each district is headed by a superintendent. In many states a superintendent is assisted by one or more additional superintendents or deputy superintendents. Generally, a police district is same as a revenue district of a state.
• The police district is divided into police sub-divisions under the command of a deputy superintendent of subdivision police officer.
• The police sub-division is made up of one or more police circles, and is under the command of an inspector, often referred to as the circle inspector.
• Under the police circles are the police stations, generally under the control of a sub-inspector.

Assam state police force also maintains its own Reserve Armed police force (special armed police and armed police) which is responsible for emergencies and crowd control issues. They are generally activated only on orders from the rank of DIG and higher-level authorities.

The armed constabulary do not usually come into contact with the general public unless they are assigned to VIP duty, counter-insurgency operations, riot control or to maintain law and order during fairs, festivals, athletic events, elections, and natural disasters.

They may also be sent to quell outbreaks of student or labour unrest, organised crime, to maintain guard posts and to participate in anti-terrorist operations. Depending on the type of assignment, the Armed Police force may carry lathis or lethal weapons.

Assam Police also have an elite commando group known as the "Black Panthers" equipped with modern weapons and technology for anti-terrorist operations and VVIP protection.

List of DGP of Assam Police

Branches

With the growth and development of the police administration in the post-colonial era, a number of new branches were established to meet the increasing demands of law and order. Some of these branches are:

1. Bureau of Investigation (Economic Offenses)
2. Special Branch
3. Criminal Investigation Department
4. Assam Police Border Organization
5. Assam Police Radio Organization
6. Assam River Police Organization
7. Directorate of Forensic Science. Assam
8. Assam Village Defense Organization.
9. Fire & Emergency Services, Assam
10. State Disaster Response Force, Assam
11. Assam Police Highway Patrol Unit, (to be Introduced)

The Assam Police has grown from strength to strength during the last two decade. In 1980 it had a force of 40,290 and at the end of the 20th century its numerical strength stands at 60,721.

Battalion and Reserved Forces

Assam Police Battalion (APBN)

Assam Police Battalion personnels are engaged in the onerous task of helping the district police in maintaining Law and Order, besides guarding the vital installations round the clock, including Counter Insurgency, Riot control . They are also engaged in other static security duties.

Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBN)

The raising of CPMF can only meet the regular and increasing demand of the state. It was decided to augment the strengths of the state governments. It is in this context that I.R. Battalions were raised in Assam with the assistance of the central government. The central government however reserves the first right to call on these battalions as and when required for deployment outside the state. The personnel of the battalion are engaged in both operational as well as law and order duties.

Assam Police Task Force (APTF)

APTF Battalion was raised as a speciality peace keeping force to tackle the instances of communal and group violence. The personnel of this force were posted in vulnerable areas and minority pockets, so that any sign of communal disharmony could be quickly countered and prevented from flaring up into a major communal violence. This force has functioned effectively as an emergency task force.

Commando Battalion

State Disaster Response Force

State Disaster Response Force or SDRF ASSAM is a Specialised force of Assam Police raised with the objective of carrying out relief and rescue operations in a quick and effective manner during any natural and man-made disaster.

There are 05 Companies of SDRF Battalion In Different Parts of Assam.

Medals and awards

Officers of Assam Police got many awards and medals for their outstanding and meritorious service. Many officers and men of the Assam Police, laid down their lives in the fight against extremism since 1986.

Kirti Chakra

Shaurya Chakra

Jeevan Raksha Padak

List of receivers for 2011 President's Police Medal for Gallantry:

• Constable Nirmal Chandra Deka.(Posthumously)

Police Medal for gallantry on republic day 2017.

• Pranab Kumar Gogoi Circle Inspector.
• Utpal Borah.Sub-Inspector
• Anurag Agarwal.SP
• Prakash Sonowal.SDPO
• Imdad Ali.SDPO
• Mahananda Gauria.Constable
• Ghanakanta Malakar.Constable
• Hemkanta Boro.Constable
• Ratneshwar Kalita.Constable
• Bapan Roy

Equipment

All the equipment for the Assam Police are manufactured indigenously by the Indian Ordnance Factories, Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

File:Browning High-Power 9mm IMG 1526.jpg|Standard Officer's Service Gun File:Glock17.jpg|Glock 17 Standard Officer's Service Gun File:Hkmp5count-terr-wiki.jpg File:Bren1.jpg

Vehicles

• Toyota Innova
• Mahindra Scorpio
• Tata Safari (VIP Protection & Convoy)
• HM Ambassador (Being phased Out)

Vehicles Used for General Duty purpose.

• Mahindra Bolero
• Maruti Gypsy .
• Tata Sumo .
• Tata 407 Trucks .
• Buses for transportation of troops.
• Bajaj Pulsar Bikes. (Patrolling)
• Royal Enfield
• Maruti Omni. (For Guwahati City traffic only)
• Mahindra Commander Jeep. (Phased out)
• Tata Spacio.
• Mahindra Legend
• Mahindra Invader
• Mahindra Thar
• Vajra by VRDE for Riot control
• Varun by VRDE for Riot control
• Chevrolet Tavera Traffic Interceptor vehicle

File:MahindraScorpio Cropped.jpg|Scorpio File:2009 tata safari vx 4x4.JPG|Safari File:Toyota Innova Crysta 2.4 Z front right.jpg|Innova File:Omni Lpg.jpg

Controversies

There are many allegations and court cases of police brutality, custodial death, human rights violations, fake encounter killing, extortion, filling fake cases to harass the general public, corruption filed against the Assam Police. Because of the corrupt politicians the police have always complained not being able to function properly. Different organizations and their open extortion are known to the public and the police also have been alleged to have a fair share on those. Another main acquisition of Assam police in the present is that they are the friends of thieves, kidnappers and murderers rather than the public and it is said that the police has a better share in those crime money. Corruption of the organization is at peak with people fearing to go to the police against a crime as they need to pay money to file an FIR or take actions. There have also been reported human rights abuses against the Naga people, which has incited and increased Naga nationalism.

Assam Police Fake Encounters

Source:

Starting May 2021 several fake police encounters took place in the state. National Human Rights Commission has been approached with human rights violation in the alleged fake encounters. On 21 December a Public Interest Litigation petition was filed by Arif Jwadder before the Gauhati High Court demanding independent investigation over the fake encounters killings. Till date 51 deaths and 139 injuries have occurred till date. The petitioner moved the Supreme Court after the Gauhati High Court refused to institute independent enquiry.

The deaths and injury have crossed more than 171 from May 2021 till August 2022.

On 28 May 2025 the Supreme Court of India in its judgement has ordered the Assam Human Rights Commission to inquire and investigate encounters in the petition case titled Arif Md Yeasin Jwadder vs state of assam & ors. filed by advocate Arif Jwadder against the judgement of the Gauhati High Court. The judgement was earlier reserved by the supreme court on 25 February 2025.

References

References

1. (2019). "Assam Budget Analysis 2019-20".
2. (2017-07-06). "History of Assam Police".
3. (2024-09-24). "Prakash Singh".
4. Chaudhary, Eyazul Aziz. (2019-04-23). "Former Assam DGP Harekrishna Deka cries foul over EVM malfunction".
5. NEWS, NE NOW. (2021-07-28). "From Police Commission to formation of battalions, Assam Cabinet takes several key decisions, check here for details".
6. (2023-12-31). "Former Assam DGP Deepak Narayan Dutta Passes Away, Assam Police Decide Not To Celebrate New Year - The Hills Times".
7. (2008-12-03). "GM Shrivastava is new DGP of Assam.".
8. (2014-09-17). "Former Assam DGP Shankar Barua commits suicide". The Hindu.
9. (2014-02-12). "Assam politicians very polite: NSG Chief Jayanto Narayan Choudhury".
10. Bharat, E. T. V.. (2019-10-26). "Former Assam DGP Khagen Sarma, 64, dies of cancer".
11. (2018-05-23). "Assam's former top cop now teaches maths in school".
12. Raja, Vidya. (2018-04-26). "Assam's New DGP Is a Fulbright Scholar, Sahitya Akademi Recipient & IIT Doctorate!".
13. (2019-11-29). "Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta named as new Assam DGP incharge".
14. Tribune, The Assam. (2024-08-13). "Assam's top cop GP Singh set for transfer; likely to head CRPF".
15. "Harmeet Singh To Be Acting DGP Of Assam; GP Singh Relieved For CRPF DG Role".
16. "Business News Today: Read Latest Business news, India Business News Live, Share Market & Economy News".
17. [https://web.archive.org/web/20010305214411/http://www.assampolice.com/orgstruc.htm Assam Police - History]
18. [https://www.kcgmckarnal.org/assam-police-commando-battalion-recruitment/ Assam Police Commando Battalion]
19. "Gallantry Awards {{!}} Ministry of Defence, Government of India".
20. "Gallantry Awards {{!}} Ministry of Defence, Government of India".
21. "Gallantry Awards {{!}} Ministry of Defence, Government of India".
22. (2025-05-28). "Supreme Court directs Assam Human Rights Commission to probe allegations of police encounters". The Hindu.
23. (2021-07-11). "Assam police on 'encounter spree', NHRC told". The Hindu.
24. Quint, The. (2021-07-12). "'Assam Police on Encounter Spree': Delhi-Based Lawyer Approaches NHRC".
25. Scroll Staff. "Lawyer moves Gauhati High Court seeking independent probe into deaths in Assam's alleged encounters".
26. (2022-07-29). "Gauhati High Court asks Assam to file updated probe report encounter cases since May 2021". [[The Hindu]].
27. Chishti, Aiman J.. (2023-05-02). "Advocate Moves Supreme Court Against High Court's Refusal To Entertain PIL Seeking Independent Probe Into Alleged Fake Encounters In Assam".
28. Mohanty, Suchitra Kalyan. (2024-10-22). "'171 Incidents are alarming': SC to Assam on police encounters, seeks details".
29. Shrivastava, Debby Jain & Amisha. (2025-05-28). "Supreme Court Asks Assam Human Rights Commission To Enquire Into Alleged Fake Encounters In State".
30. Tribune, The Assam. (2025-02-25). "SC reserves verdict on fake encounters after govt defends guidelines compliance".