Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta spoke exclusively to The Sentinel Assam

'Challenges are big, but sense of service is keeping us motivated'

Since the massive protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill last year till date, Assam Police has been working tirelessly, literally 24x7. They have been at the forefront of this Corona crisis. What is keeping Assam Police motivated? What is their game plan during lockdown 4.0? How are they gearing up for post lockdown scenario? Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, DGP, Assam spoke

exclusively to The Sentinelassam.com on all of these issues and more. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

Sentinel Assam: Large scale home coming happening. Any cause of concern for the people of Assam? Of course, the number of COVID positive cases are rising?

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta: We in Assam Police began it very early. Right in the beginning when it was happening in China, we had detected three people in Guwahati, two from Wuhan and one from Sanghai and we had immediately informed the Government that Wuhan is in bad shape. They were quarantined immediately and we constituted a core team. We chalked out a series of plans and put them into action. We have been pretty much successful in achieving what we had set out to. We were extremely strict in implementing the lockdown. We drew a lot of flak but it is like caring for your own family. Our intention was never to harass them or harm them. WE found destitute who did not know what to do, no food to eat. That is when we started extending our helping hand to the needy across Assam.

Now yes, the challenge is far too heavy with a lot of people coming in. There were people coming in in three stages – first the intra-state, then people from nearby northeastern states, this also went off pretty smooth but the actual challenge began when people began to come in from other parts of the country in buses and trains from Maharashtra, Kochi, Delhi and a lot of red zones. Some turned out to be carriers of the virus and you cannot do without bringing them back.

We have made a very systematic arrangement at the inter-state check gate at Srirampur. I personally visited the place, to give a boost to the morale of the forces out there because our guys are at the frontline. I have arranged for PPE kits and other safety equipment in large numbers. The safety and security of our policemen is a priority. They have not shown any sign of fatigue till now. Remember CAA agitation till now they have been at work without a break. They have been handling very serious challenges throughout. I am very proud of our boys and I would like to compliment the medical staff. Its our men who are the ones who come in contact with every person be it at the bus depots or the railway stations or the quarantine centres and containment zones. Each of them are doing a very fine job.

Things have got streamlined, but the magnitude of the challenge is such that we have to keep our cool, keep protecting our people, keep their morale high.

Sentinel Assam: Amid all this, what about the law and order situation in Assam?

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta: We are good. The crime rate has gone down mostly because of the night curfew in place. The cyber crime rate has shot up. Crime against property has gone down but cases of depression are getting reported. Though we have not noticed many domestic violence cases but there have been cases of violence within families.

We are more bothered about the post-lockdown scenario. We are trying to do a predictive analysis of the fallout of the lockdown on the crime situation of Assam. We are doing a lot of surveys in the villages of what kind of people are coming back, everybody is accounted for. There could be people facing loss of jobs, facing hunger and depending on these there could be a spurt in the number of crimes. Therefore, we are keeping a special eye on it. We are gearing up our forces accordingly and we have chalked out police station-wise law and order and crime prevention plans.

Sentinel Assam: Lockdown norms have been eased but the night curfew is in place and social distancing norms are to be followed. How has the compliance been so far?

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta: I have to thank the people of Assam for following the nigh curfew very well. They are responding to our request. But during the day people will come out as a whole lot of sectors have been allowed to start operations like shops, takeaways from restaurants, 100% attendance in offices so ensuring social distancing has become a huge challenge. But we have been appealing now, depending upon the nature of the lockdown and the exemptions thereof, Assam Police is also reshaping its role. Right at the beginning it was no nonsense at all. Second phase some exemptions were given to give a push to the economy and now taking flood control measures as floods are round the corner, we have to now facilitate the exempted sectors like the farm sector and small vendors while ensuring social distance. In the third part, we have decided to stop all feeding activities of destitute because enough exemptions have been given. But we will continue helping certain categories of people like senior citizens, we have a helpline desk set up for them, mental health helpline, we have six helplines and have received over 800 calls from across India, people who are from Assam but staying outside and catering to the kids, how they are coping with the lockdown. I myself did a webinar with 75 kids.

Ensuring social distancing has been put on the owner of the shop or head of the office. Police is not going after the public but they are now taking photographs of wherever there is a deviation or non-compliance of social distancing norms and taking action against those people who are responsible for ensuring social distancing norms like closing the shop or taking action against the head of the office.

Sentinel Assam: How are you keeping your team motivated?

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta: We have a great team. The core team itself is a very capable, motivated lot, dedicated to the job at hand. They are enjoying the accolades they are receiving and Assam Police has been receiving wonderful support and love from the people because of the way in which we have been approaching the issues and trying to solve the problems. We never faced anything like this before like everyone else. I am grateful to the people of Assam for showing so much love to Assam Police and that makes us feel more responsible. And I think I have been able to communicate to them about what they are required to do. I have been travelling a lot, trying to meet them or at least connect with them through video conferencing.

Sentinel Assam: The task at hand is huge, pressure is high and workforce is limited. How are you managing to strike the right balance?

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta: That's a real challenge. I was just thinking about giving rest to part of my workforce to increase their capabilities. But now the number of quarantine centres are going up, number of people coming in is increasing, VIP movement is happening, industries are opening, crimes gong up so one district saying we need this many company another asking for more additional forces. So, we have to keep going this way, no other option.

Sentinel Assam: What is the Assam Police's mantra behind staying fit despite working 24x7 under such harsh circumstances?

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta: It's the sense of service. It is so gratifying to see our people at 2.30am in the railway stations, all fit as a fiddle. Even the lady police personnel, they are so good and responsive. Basically its the sense of service in a crisis situation, that motivates everyone and the love that is being given by the people. The team that has been built, Team Assam, that is working. The responsible and faith reposed upon them is keeping them all motivated and making them feel more responsible.

Also Read: Assam COVID-19 Cases Rise to 185; Fourteen more test Positive