The falling crime graph in the State in the last one year has been achieved on the back of a relentless spate of active policing, and a proactive Home Department being overseen by the Chief Minister.
Cut to May 10, 2021, immediately after taking oath as the Chief Minister, Dr. Sarma chaired a meeting, at his residence, at around 9 pm. It was attended by DGP (Assam Police), Special DGP (Law & Order) and Principal Secretary (Home Department). After the meeting, which lasted for two hours, the Chief Minister directed the police to prepare an action plan on seven core areas of crime: narcotics, crimes against women & children, cattle smuggling, poaching of one-horned rhino, land encroachment, terrorism and crude oil pilferation.
The result in the last one year has impressed even the critics of the Government. In 2021, the State registered 11,103 criminal cases every month, whereas in 2022 the number of cases were down to an average of 6,247.
Although the police have been cracking down on drug peddlers for quite some time now, a renewed vigour has been on display after the new Government assumed office in Dispur. Beginning May 10, 2021 till April 17, 2022, over 4,838 drug dealers have been arrested, while narcotics worth Rs 548.53 crore have been seized.
It is not that the Government is only using force to do away with anti-social activities. A good amount of persuasion has also come into play. On September 4, 2021, the UPLA, PDCK, KPLT and KLNLF signed a memorandum of settlement with the State Government and the Centre. Subsequently, they disbanded their organisations and dismantled their designated camps. The Chief Minister has repeatedly appealed to the ULFA (I) to come for negotiations.
After the historic Bodo Agreement of 2020, 4,203 ex-NDFB cadres have been rehabilitated at a cost of Rs 212.30 crore. The Government has also agreed to release Rs 77.4 crore for the rehabilitation of the surrendered cadres of UPLA, PDCK, KPLT and KLNLF. The number of incidents of poaching of one-horned rhinos saw a major fall since May 10, 2021. Government records say that just one rhino fell prey to poachers in the last one year. Kevin Pietersen, the English cricketer and conservationist, went on record praising the Assam Government’s efforts in rhino conservation.
In the last one year, 9,454 cattle were rescued leading to the arrest of 992 cattle smugglers. The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 is likely to enable the law enforcement agency in curbing the practice.
The police have been on the ground to tackle the menace of women and child trafficking from the State. Strict vigilance and intelligence-gathering mechanisms have been strengthened with a zero-tolerance approach to crime against women and children leading to the arrest of 104 traffickers and rescue of 250 victims since May 10 last year.
The Chief Minister has in the recent past interacted with officers in-charge of police stations across Assam as well as with superintendents of police in a bid to bolster law enforcement with a humane touch while boosting their morale.
