On September 3, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a major expansion of the state police force, outlining a plan to recruit between 15,000 and 20,000 new personnel. The announcement came at the end of a two‑day conference of senior police officers held in Guwahati, where Sarma emphasized that maintaining law and order would remain a top priority for the government. He directed the police leadership to ensure that the security situation in Assam remains stable under any circumstances.
The recruitment drive will be accompanied by the promotion of approximately 5,000 serving officers, a move intended to accelerate career progression within the force. Sarma noted that the conviction rate has improved substantially, rising from around eight percent in 2020 to 29.3 percent currently, and the government is now targeting a conviction rate of 35 percent. He attributed the improvement in part to the timely filing of charge sheets.
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In addition to personnel increases, the government will create two new police battalions. One unit will focus on disaster management, while the other will cater to the security requirements of Oil India and ONGC installations. These additions are intended to bolster the state’s capacity to respond to natural calamities and protect critical energy infrastructure, reflecting a broader strategy to modernize the police force.
Infrastructure upgrades are also on the agenda. The Lachit Borphukan Police Academy will be upgraded with the objective of giving it national‑level status, and the government plans to expand police housing from the current 10,000 units to 30,000, addressing the needs of a force nearing 90,000 members. Sarma said the decisions taken at the conference would be implemented within six months, emphasizing the need to meet the changing requirements of modern policing.
A further initiative is the establishment of an Anti‑Narcotics Task Force within the next month, which will also investigate economic offences. The government intends to seek stricter punishment for drug dealers and to pursue the attachment of properties allegedly linked to drug trafficking. The next conference of police superintendents is scheduled to be held in Bongaigaon in February, providing a platform to review progress on these reforms.
