Manpower shortage hampers investigation process: DGP

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 22: Cases of vehicle theft, extortion, snatching, kidnapping and other crimes have increased in Guwahati and other districts of the State. This was informed by the Director General of Police (DGP), Jayanta Narayan Choudhury, in an interaction with The Sentinel.

Choudhury said the spurt in crimes in Guwahati city and its adjoining areas is a matter of serious concern for the city police and the problem has aggravated due to lack of manpower in the police force.

“We are facing manpower shortage in the city police which makes it difficult for us to investigate into the crime cases lodged at the police stations. Only 1,300 police personnel are manning the 22 police stations and 10 police outposts in the city,” said the DGP, adding, “About 1,200 crime related cases are registered at the city police stations every year. Now, you can imagine what would be the situation in the whole State?”

According to official records, 374 cases of murder, kidnapping, extortion, snatching, bank/ATM fraud, land grabbing and vehicle theft have taken place in the city up to April this year.

“Guwahati city has only 120 investigating officers (IOs) and 166 sub-inspectors (SIs). The IOs who are meant solely for investigation purposes are engaged in other works of the police like VIP security due to lack of manpower, and it hampers the investigation process,” he said, adding, “According to the Bureau of Police Research and Development, an IO should investigate five cases per month. But in Guwahati, an IO handles 120 cases per month, which is an impossible task.”

The DGP further stated that the police stations in other districts of Assam are also facing the manpower shortage. Assam has now a total of 65,000 police personnel.

“The CID should open its branch in every district headquarters in Assam to deal with crime cases in the State and it would lighten the State Police’s burden to an extent,” he added.

Choudhury said the police stations across the State are also facing shortage of vehicles.