GUWAHATI, Aug 19 - Public activist Prof Deven Dutta has lauded the role of the Assam Police for its success in foiling several possible subversive incidents planned by extremists and fundamental elements.
Prof Dutta said that there was a time when the common people of Assam had full confidence in the Assam Police. �In fact, during the Bordoloi Trophy and the Independence Day Cup football matches, most spectators supported the Assam Police team. But increasing politicisation and political interference in the day-to-day affairs and professional functioning of the force led to growing anti-social activities including extortion and various immoral activities by policemen of various ranks. The people, too, started losing confidence in the police,� Prof Dutta observed.
Prof Dutta said that tremendous shortage of police personnel like constables, havildars, ASIs and SIs, inordinate delay in appointments, unabated corruption in appointments in the past, failure to take action against guilty persons in the Assam Police and deploying large numbers of police personnel for security duty with respect to ministers, bureaucrats, top police officials and surrendered extremists masquerading as �political liberators� have completely broken the backbone of the once glorious Assam Police, demoralized them and even demeaned them in the public eye.
Prof Dutta said that against such a backdrop and with the acute shortage of personnel and modern weaponry to tackle dangerous law-breakers and �pseudo-politcal extremists� and even of logistics to control traffic jams, particularly caused by commercial vehicles, the Assam Police have done a commendable job during the last few days.
He expressed the hope that given adequate personnel and proper implementation of the recommendations of the Police Accountability Commission and a free hand in the professional discharge of duties, the Assam Police will soon regain its lost glory.
