The Assam Government has decided to introduce the commissionerate system of policing in the capital city Guwahati with effect from January 1 next year as decided at a law and order review meeting convened by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi here today.
Due to rapid urbanisation leading to burgeoning growth in the city's population, policing has become a greater challenge than ever before, the review meeting said.
The bringing of the fast-expanding city under the ambit of a new structure would infuse new vigour on part of police to combat crime, maintain law and order, peace and tranquility in the society and to generate safe and secure environment, a government release said.
The Assam Police Act, 2007, has provisions for appointing a police commissioner in metropolitan areas and major urban areas where the population exceeds 10 lakh.
The Act states that the police commissioner to be appointed should not be below the rank of an Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The meeting further decided that Biswanath Chariali subdivision of Sonitpur district would become a Police District for ensuring better policing with easy accessibility to people.
The commissionerate system is followed in New Delhi, NCR and Maharashtra, besides others, the release added.
The meeting also reviewed the state's overall law and order situation and it was attended, among others, by Home and Political Principal Secretary MGVK Bhanu, Director General of Police Khagen Sarma, Additional DGP-law and order R M Singh and ADGP-Special Branch Pallab Bhattacharya, the release said.
