GUWAHATI, April 6 - With the outbreak of COVID-19, the Assam Police personnel have to undertake multiple tasks including enforcement of the lockdown imposed to stop spreading of coronavirus, monitoring the social media to check spreading of rumours, reaching out to the people in need etc, while, quarantine facilities have also been created for police personnel in case of any eventuality.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Director General of Assam Police, BJ Mahanta said that ensuing free movement of all the essential commodities is vital during the lockdown period and he had nominated two senior officers � Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order and City Police Commissioner MP Gupta to liaise with the State and Central Governments in this regard. The officers are also maintaining contact with the additional Chief Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, to ensure free movement of essentials by rail and road. Singh is also visiting different parts of the State to ensure normal movement of goods, while, orders have been issued to district police forces to issue passes to essential service providers.
The DGP said that senior police officers have been appointed as nodal officers to deal with various tasks assigned to the police force in this hour of crisis. He said that Inspector General of Police, Deepak Kumar Kedia is the nodal officer for effective communication and dissemination of information to the grass root level.
A State level task force consisting of the nodal officers and range DIGs has been created to ensure smooth flow of information. Advisories in both English and Assamese have been printed and circulated all over the State to be displayed prominently in front of all the police stations to create mass awareness.
Imposing the 21-day lockdown was one of the major tasks for the police force and strong action is being taken against the violators. Till yesterday, more than 1090 persons were arrested and more than 4300 vehicles were seized. Over Rs 15.50 lakh were realized as fines from the violators of lockdown.
Mahanta revealed that data on migrant labourers who have come from outside is also being maintained and so far, 9899 such persons are kept in the quarantine centres.
Approximately 1500-bedded quarantine facilities for police personnel have been created in District headquarters and Assam Police Battalion Headquarters all over Assam. The doctors, nurses deployed with the police department are being trained to deal with this pandemic through instructional videos recorded in Assamese language.
The DGP said that Village Defence Parties (VDP) have been engaged extensively to keep a vigil on suspected COVID-19 cases who are trying to evade medical screening and also to create awareness amongst the community on maintaining social distancing and taking precautionary measures to prevent its spread. Civil society groups including the citizens� committees are also extending their support to the police in this regard. Adequate security has been ensured at seven declared containment areas in the State.
