SPO woe remains unaddressed

Guwahati, April 23: Things came to such a pretty pass on Monday that a section of special police officers (SPOs) was to commit suicide at the second Saraighat bridge by jumping into the Brahmaputra for the utter neglect they have been facing over the years despite their repeated pleas to Dispur to mitigate their woes.

Police personnel posted at the other end of the bridge had a tough time as they tried to tackle the situation from spiraling out of bounds.

The SPOs were recruited in 2008 for militancy-hit areas, but they were virtually left in the lurch in 2010 after surrendered Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) members were recruited in the police force of the State.

Since 2010 the SPOs have been demanding permanent posting. The Tarun Gogoi government had, in 2014, assured them of permanent posting – it was given in written – by way of constituting the third Assam Industrial Security Force (AISF) battalion within June 2015, which was not done.

When advertisement for 145 posts was out in December last year for recruitment to the first and second AISF, the SPOs demanded that the recruitment be put in hold as they constituted a larger strength of 761 personnel. The Assam Police Recruitment Board wrote to the Home Department on the issue, but nothing concrete has emanated so far.

On Monday, the SPOs put up their demand that they must be given permanent posting within May as they already have the necessary training. They have been assured of solution to their grievances, following which they have decided not to agitate until May 5.