DIBRUGARH, April 15 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today held a review meeting with police range DIGs and Superintendents of Police of 10 upper Assam districts at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner�s office here and took stock of the prevailing law-and-order situation in those districts.
While appreciating the role played by police in the fight against coronavirus, the Chief Minister called upon cops to maintain continuity in the supply chain of essential commodities to minimise hardships of the common people during the extended lockdown period.
In an important observation, Sonowal referred to the recent incident of alleged harassment and manhandling of Power department staffs by the police at Dergaon in Golaghat district and said that this kind of incident must be avoided which might bring a bad name to the Assam Police and overshadow their good works. Underlining the need for coordination among departments such as Health, Police, PHED, Agriculture, Veterinary etc., the Chief Minister said that when all departments work in tandem, then only a government can carry out activities smoothly and people can derive benefits out of it. Police has a major role in facilitating all other departments in performing their duties effectively while ensuring that strict lockdown is maintained by the people, he said.
In another incident, a TV channel news reporter here was foul mouthed by the cops at an incident at Thana Chariali on Tuesday afternoon, after he was coming back from the Chief Minister�s function in the Khanikar area here. Local journalists have condemned the incident. Directing the Police department to conduct opinion polls on the social media to get people�s feedback, Sonowal appreciated Assam Police for reaching out to many people in distress and for helping them with food, medicine etc. He directed the Police department to swiftly act on any requirement of medicine, food etc., particularly for elderly citizens, pregnant women and children, during this lockdown period. The Chief Minister also instructed the SPs of Upper Assam districts to monitor tea garden lines and help the tea community people in consultation with line sardars.
Directing the Police department to take good care of the migrant workers and labourers stranded in Assam from other States, Chief Minister Sonowal said that Assam government has promised all States that their citizens would be kept safely here and Assam Police must ensure fulfilment of this commitment. He also urged the police to facilitate the vendors supplying essential commodities while also keeping a check on the activities of hoarding, creation of artificial scarcity etc. There should not be any interruption in the supply of rice and other essential items under PDS so that poor section of the society do not face any difficulty, he asserted.
Sonowal stressed on immediate warnings to those who post hateful or provocative messages on the social media, and underlined the need for maintaining peace and harmony in the society during these difficult times. He also instructed that all Officers in Charge (OCs) of police stations should have a list of ASHA workers working in their areas so that these grassroot health workers do not face any difficulty or harassment due to police action. He also called for ensuring non-interruption in the supply of essential items passing through Assam to the neighbouring States.
Informing that Assam has 32 districts in the list of 750 high risk districts prepared by Union Health Ministry for Covid-19, he called on the police department to stay prepared for all eventualities.
