Guwahati: Assam chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, while answering questions from the opposition members in the State legislative
assembly on Thursday reasserted the government’s zero-tolerance policy against crimes and reiterated its stand towards the rapists,
murderers, drug-peddlers, human traffickers, etc will continue. Sarma stated that the police forces would take strong actions under
the law against the dreaded criminals whenever necessary. Describing various measures for reforms in the policing, he informed that 10 new
commando battalions would set up in Assam. He insisted that the police on duty would take prompt and necessary actions against a criminal who
tries to flee from the custody after attacking the police team itself. The government can not allow the unruly elements to kill the police
personnel, commented Sama, also in charge of State home portfolio, adding that the police are not trigger happy and their actions are
meant to be a deterrent to the criminals so that they do not dare to target the police personnel. However, he assured, the government will
take actions against the police personnel also if needed. Narrating the story of accused rapist-murder Syed Ali (65), who
confessed about his crimes against a minor girl in Morigaon recently, Sarma informed that Ali first killed the girl belonging to the
minority community and then raped her from ‘both sides’. Ali lost all senses of humanity and when he tried to escape the custody, he was
shot at by the police personnel so that he can be produced in the court. Highlighting on the operations against illegal drug-trades in Assam,
Sarma informed that the State police arrested over 1895 drug-peddlers and registered 1120 cases in the last few weeks. He also added that
within these days, around 27 kg heroin, 12823 kg ganja, 41 kg opium, 78,000 cough syrup bottles, 3 kg morphine, 3 kg crystalline, 33 kg
poppy straw, etc were seized from these criminals. Sarma also commented that menace of illegal drugs in the State is much
larger in proportion than anticipated. He believes that the problem started a few years back and continued to flourish involving powerful
individuals and extremist organizations (not Ulfa) in the tune of crores of rupees and if it is not dealt with an iron hand, the
situation would be out of control in near future.
CM bats for proper action against criminal
