GUWAHATI, June 16 - The Strategy group of the Unified Command met here today and the recent custodial death in Jorhat district was one of the key issues discussed in the meeting. The meeting also reviewed the overall law and order situation and decided that though militancy is on the wane, police and security forces should not lower their guard.
Official sources told The Assam Tribune that Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, who chaired the meeting, told the Army officers to ensure that the standard operating procedure (SOP) should be strictly maintained while launching anti-militancy operations. He asked the Army officers to issue necessary instructions to the field units to ensure that whenever a person is picked up, a health check up should be carried out before interrogating the person.
Apart from police, the Army personnel should also take the local gaonburha along while carrying out raids if possible, the Army officers were told.
Official sources said that though militancy is on the wane, the Unified Command decided that the police and security forces should not lower their guards and anti-insurgency operations should be carried out to prevent insurgents from regrouping. As a large number of police personnel are doing duty to fight the war against COVID-19, militant groups may try to take advantage of the situation and all the forces on the ground and intelligence agencies should remain alert.
Another major issue discussed was the possibility of criminals using Assam and other states of the region to smuggle drugs and weapons and all the intelligence and security agencies have been asked to remain alert to prevent any such attempt, sources said.
It may be mentioned here that death of one Jayanta Bora in custody after he was picked up by a joint team of Army and police created a major hue and cry in Jorhat and the Government has ordered a probe into the incident, while, three policemen have been placed under suspension over the incident.
