# Assam Police

The Assam Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Assam in India. A regular police force was initiated in Assam by the British after the Treaty of Yandaboo to maintain the law and order. It functions under the Department of Home Affairs, Assam. The headquarters of Assam Police is situated at Ulubari in the state capital Guwahati.

## Organizational structure

Assam Police comes under direct control of Department of Home Affairs, Government of Assam. The Assam Police is headed by a Director General of Police (DGP). The current DGP of the Assam Police is Harmeet Singh, IPS
* Assam police forces are organized into police ranges, headed by an inspector general deputy inspector general, who controls several police districts.
* The police district is the fulcrum of state police activity and each district is headed by a superintendent. In many states a superintendent is assisted by one or more additional superintendents or deputy superintendents. Generally, a police district is same as a revenue district of a state.
* The police district is divided into police sub-divisions under the command of a deputy superintendent of subdivision police officer.
* The police sub-division is made up of one or more police circles, and is under the command of an inspector, often referred to as the circle inspector.
* Under the police circles are the police stations, generally under the control of a sub-inspector.
Assam state police force also maintains its own Reserve Armed police force (special armed police and armed police) which is responsible for emergencies and crowd control issues. They are generally activated only on orders from the rank of DIG and higher-level authorities. The armed constabulary do not usually come into contact with the general public unless they are assigned to VIP duty, counter-insurgency operations, riot control or to maintain law and order during fairs, festivals, athletic events, elections, and natural disasters. They may also be sent to quell outbreaks of student or labour unrest, organised crime, to maintain guard posts and to participate in anti-terrorist operations. Depending on the type of assignment, the Armed Police force may carry lathis or lethal weapons.
Assam Police also have an elite commando group known as the "Black Panthers" equipped with modern weapons and technology for anti-terrorist operations and VVIP protection.

## List of DGP of Assam Police

List of Director General of Assam Police :
| Name | Home Minister | Appointment date | Retirement date |
| Prakash Singh | Hiteswar Saikia | 1991 | 1991 |
| Harekrishna Deka | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta | 2000 | 2003 |
| Harekrishna Deka | Tarun Gogoi | | |
| P. V. Sumant | Tarun Gogoi | 2003 | 2005 |
| Deepak Narayan Dutta | Tarun Gogoi | 2005 | 2006 |
| Ghanashyam Murari Shrivastava | Tarun Gogoi | 2008 | 2009 |
| Shankar Prasad Barua | Tarun Gogoi | 2009 | 2011 |
| Jayanta Narayan Choudhury | Tarun Gogoi | 2011 | 2014 |
| Khagen Sarma | Tarun Gogoi | 2014 | 2015 |
| Mukesh Sahay | Tarun Gogoi | 2015 | 2018 |
| Kuladhar Saikia | Sarbananda Sonowal | 2018 | 2019 |
| Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta | Sarbananda Sonowal | 2019 | 2023 |
| Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 2019 | 2023 |
| Gyanendra Pratap Singh | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 2023 | 2025 |
| Harmeet Singh(Acting) | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 2025 | Incumbent |

## Branches

With the growth and development of the police administration in the post-colonial era, a number of new branches were established to meet the increasing demands of law and order. Some of these branches are:
* Bureau of Investigation (Economic Offenses)
* Special Branch
* Criminal Investigation Department
* Assam Police Border Organization
* Assam Police Radio Organization
* Assam River Police Organization
* Directorate of Forensic Science. Assam
* Assam Village Defense Organization.
* Fire & Emergency Services, Assam
* State Disaster Response Force, Assam
* Assam Police Highway Patrol Unit, (to be Introduced)
The Assam Police has grown from strength to strength during the last two decade. In 1980 it had a force of 40,290 and at the end of the 20th century its numerical strength stands at 60,721.

## Battalion and Reserved Forces

Assam Police Battalion (APBN)
Assam Police Battalion personnels are engaged in the onerous task of helping the district police in maintaining Law and Order, besides guarding the vital installations round the clock, including Counter Insurgency, Riot control . They are also engaged in other static security duties.
| Year | Battalion | Headquarters | District | Notes |
| 1948 | 1st APBN | Ligripukhuri | Sivasagar | Engaged in manning 11 Border outpost |
| 1952 | 2nd APBN | Makum | Tinsukia | Engaged in Law and Order duties besides manning 4 Border outpost |
| 1957 | 3rd APBN | Titabor | Jorhat | Engaged in Law and Order duties besides manning 6 Border outpost |
| 1962 | 4th APBN | Kahilipara | Kamrup | Engaged in Law and Order duties besides manning 4 Border outpost |
| 1964 | 5th APBN | Sontilla | North Cachar Hills | Engaged in Law and Order duties |
| 1965 | 6th APBN | Kathal | Cachar | Engaged in Law and Order duties besides manning 6 Border outpost |
| 1986 | 7th APBN | Choraikhola | Kokrajhar | Engaged in Law and Order duties |
| 1966 | 8th APBN | Abhayapuri | Bongaigaon | Engaged in the guarding of vital installations and Law and Order duties |
| 1970 | 9th APBN | Barhampur | Nagaon | Engaged in manning 6 Border outpost, important railway bridges, other security and Law and Order duties |
| 1973 | 10th APBN | Kahilipara | Kamrup | Engaged in important security duties |
| 1978 | 11th APBN | Dergaon | Golaghat | Engaged in important security and Law and Order duties besides manning 7 Border outpost |
| 1980 | 12th APBN | Jamugurihat | Sonitpur | Engaged in manning 2 Border outpost, guarding vital installations and other Law and Order duties |
| 1987 | 13th APBN | Lilabari | North Lakhimpur | Engaged in Law and Order duties besides manning 4 Border outpost |
| 1987 | 14th APBN | Dualasal | Nalbari | Engaged in Law and Order duties besides besides guarding vital installations |
Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBN)
The raising of CPMF can only meet the regular and increasing demand of the state. It was decided to augment the strengths of the state governments. It is in this context that I.R. Battalions were raised in Assam with the assistance of the central government. The central government however reserves the first right to call on these battalions as and when required for deployment outside the state. The personnel of the battalion are engaged in both operational as well as law and order duties.
| Year | Battalion | Headquarters | District |
| 1994 | 15th AP IRBN | Eraligool | Karimganj |
| 1994 | 16th AP IRBN | Bormonipur | Morigaon |
| 2001 | 19th AP IRBN | Tengakhat | Dibrugarh |
| 2001 | 20th AP IRBN | Panbari | Dhubri |
| 2006 | 21st AP IRBN | Katlicherra | Hailakandi |
| 2006 | 22nd AP IRBN | Likabali | Dhemaji |
| 2008 | 23rd AP IRBN | Siloni | Karbi Anglong |
| 2009 | 24th AP IRBN | Eraligool | Karimganj |
| 2009 | 25th AP (ONGC) IRBN | Ligiripukhuri | Sivasagar |
Assam Police Task Force (APTF)
APTF Battalion was raised as a speciality peace keeping force to tackle the instances of communal and group violence. The personnel of this force were posted in vulnerable areas and minority pockets, so that any sign of communal disharmony could be quickly countered and prevented from flaring up into a major communal violence. This force has functioned effectively as an emergency task force.
| Year | Battalion | Headquarters | District |
| 1984 | 1st APTF Battalion | Dakurvita | Goalpara |
| 1984 | 2nd APTF Battalion | Lumding | Hojai |
| 1984 | 3rd APTF Battalion | Khajuabeel | Udalguri |
| 1985 | 4th APTF Battalion | Howly | Barpeta |
Commando Battalion
| Year | Unit | Headquarters | District | Notes |
| 1996 | Black Panthers Commando | Mandakata | North Guwahati | Specially trained commando Battalion to deal with Counterinsurgency operations |
| 2012 | Veerangana Commando | Kahilipara | Guwahati | Specialised women commando battalion engaged to tackle crime against women |
State Disaster Response Force
State Disaster Response Force or SDRF ASSAM is a Specialised force of Assam Police raised with the objective of carrying out relief and rescue operations in a quick and effective manner during any natural and man-made disaster.
There are 05 Companies of SDRF Battalion In Different Parts of Assam.
| Year | Unit | Headquarters | District | Notes |
| 2011 | 1st Company SDRF Battalion | Lilabari | North Lakhimpur | Formed out of 13th AP(Bn) |
| 2011 | 2nd Company SDRF Battalion | Kathal | Cachar | Formed out of 6th AP(Bn) |
| 2011 | 3rd Company SDRF Battalion | Sila | North Guwahati | |
| 2020 | 4th Company SDRF Battalion | Abhayapuri | Bongaigaon | |
| 2020 | 5th Company SDRF Battalion | Dergaon | Golaghat | |

## Medals and awards

Officers of Assam Police got many awards and medals for their outstanding and meritorious service. Many officers and men of the Assam Police, laid down their lives in the fight against extremism since 1986.
Kirti Chakra
| Year | Rank | Name | Notes |
| 2013 | Inspector | Lohit Sonowal | Posthumously awarded for eliminating Two ULFA militants in Tinsukia |
| 2016 | Constable | Gautam Koch | Posthumously awarded for eliminating militants in Dhansiri Outpost |
Shaurya Chakra
| Year | Rank | Name | Notes |
| 2007 | Superintendent of Police | Pankaj Sharma | Eliminated NSCN militants from Assam-Nagaland Border in 2004 |
Jeevan Raksha Padak
| Year | Rank | Name | Notes |
| 2024 | Officer-in-Charge | Samarjit Basumatary | Civilian rescue from Longai River, Karimganj |
List of receivers for 2011 President's Police Medal for Gallantry:
* Constable Nirmal Chandra Deka.(Posthumously)
Police Medal for gallantry on republic day 2017.
* Pranab Kumar Gogoi Circle Inspector.
* Utpal Borah.Sub-Inspector
* Anurag Agarwal.SP
* Prakash Sonowal.SDPO
* Imdad Ali.SDPO
* Mahananda Gauria.Constable
* Ghanakanta Malakar.Constable
* Hemkanta Boro.Constable
* Ratneshwar Kalita.Constable
* Bapan Roy

## Equipment and Vehicles

All the equipment for the Assam Police are manufactured indigenously by the Indian Ordnance Factories, Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
* Lee–Enfield .303 (Phased out)
* 1A SLR Rifle
* 1B1INSAS Rifle. (Present Standard Issue)
* Sterling submachine gun.
* AKM (For Special Operations) Indian.
* AK-47 Bulgarian.
* Heckler & Koch MP5
* Bren light machine gun.
* PK Machine Gun (Limited Quantity).
* Pistol Auto 9mm 1A (Standard Service Weapon for Officers )
* Glock 17 (Special Security only)
* Revolver. (Officer's Service weapon. Being phased out)
* Standard Officer's Service Gun
* Glock 17 Standard Officer's Service Gun

### Vehicles

* Toyota Innova
* Mahindra Scorpio
* Tata Safari (VIP Protection & Convoy)
* HM Ambassador (Being phased Out)
Vehicles Used for General Duty purpose.
* Mahindra Bolero
* Maruti Gypsy .
* Tata Sumo .
* Tata 407 Trucks .
* Buses for transportation of troops.
* Bajaj Pulsar Bikes. (Patrolling)
* Royal Enfield
* Maruti Omni. (For Guwahati City traffic only)
* Mahindra Commander Jeep. (Phased out)
* Tata Spacio.
* Mahindra Legend
* Mahindra Invader
* Mahindra Thar
* Vajra by VRDE for Riot control
* Varun by VRDE for Riot control
* Chevrolet Tavera Traffic Interceptor vehicle
* Scorpio
* Safari
* Innova

## Controversies

There are many allegations and court cases of police brutality, custodial death, human rights violations, fake encounter killing, extortion, filling fake cases to harass the general public, corruption filed against the Assam Police. Because of the corrupt politicians the police have always complained not being able to function properly. Different organizations and their open extortion are known to the public and the police also have been alleged to have a fair share on those. Another main acquisition of Assam police in the present is that they are the friends of thieves, kidnappers and murderers rather than the public and it is said that the police has a better share in those crime money. Corruption of the organization is at peak with people fearing to go to the police against a crime as they need to pay money to file an FIR or take actions. There have also been reported human rights abuses against the Naga people, which has incited and increased Naga nationalism.

### 2021 Assam Police Fake Encounters

Starting May 2021 several fake police encounters took place in the sate. National Human Rights Commission has been approached with human rights violation in the alleged fake encounters. On 21 December a Public Interest Litigation petition has been filed by Arif Jwadder before the Gauhati High Court demanding independent investigation over the fake encounters killings. Till date 51 deaths and 139 injuries have occurred till date. The petitioner moved the Supreme Court after the Gauhati High Court refused to institute independent enquiry.
The deaths and injury have crossed more than 171 from May 2021 till August 2022.
The judgement has been reserved by the supreme court.