GUWAHATI, Sept 24 - The State Home Department has written to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs seeking deputation of a senior intelligence man from New Delhi to Assam Police, a development that has created ripples among the rank and file of Assam Police.
A section of senior police officials, including those of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Inspector General (IG), are miffed at the move to �airdrop� a CISF official in a top post, which, according to them, is like belittling the performance and competence of those already serving at the equivalent post in the State.
Some senior officials have even threatened to move the court against such a decision, which, according to them, will dent the morale of the Assam Police. �If the department really intends to fill up the post of the IGP (Security), then why are they not considering officials from the Assam Police itself? Are you trying to say that there is no competent official available in Assam Police to fill the post? This will hurt the morale of the police,� a top Assam Police official privy to the development said.
Sources claimed that this was for the first time that a decision to �foist a senior official� and that too from the CISF, has been taken by the Home Department.
In a letter written by Commissioner and Secretary (Home and Political) LS Changsan to the Joint Secretary (Police-II) of the MHA, the department has expressed its willingness to fill up the post of Inspector General of Police (Security) by inducting Siddhartha Sankar Sarma, who is currently serving as the DIG (Intelligence) at the CISF headquarters. Sarma, too, has agreed to join the Assam Police on deputation provided he is absorbed in an IGP-level post.
�If you want to give someone an out-of-turn promotion, why not the serving DIGs? We feel that the bosses of the Home Department have been misled by some officials with vested interest. We smell a rat in the unfortunate development,� sources rued.
The Home Department, in its letter to the MHA, however, has cited Sarma�s vast experience in the intelligence grid in Assam, along with his knowledge in security-related issues to prove its point. Besides, it also referred to the post of IGP (Security), which is lying vacant for years.
�The post is expected to remain vacant keeping in view the existing vacancies in the Assam-Meghalaya IPS cadre at the level of DIG and IGP,� the letter reasoned, adding, �The work of the SB headquarters has grown manifold over the years and with the adoption of the SB manual 2003... the function of the SBs will further increase.�
