Dispur sitting over second line of defence

INFILTRATION FROM BANGLADESH

Recruitment of 391 personnel in Assam Police Border branch stalled

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 1: The Assam government has been all along harping on the need to strengthen the ‘second line of defence’ to prevent infiltration from Bangladesh. But when it comes to translating words into action, Dispur has been consistently lacking in will.

This is evident in the process of recruiting 391 personnel in the Assam Police Border branch.

The interviews for the posts – four inspectors, 148 sub inspectors, 119 havildars and 120 constables – were conducted on May 20, 21 and 22. However, the Home department is yet to make public the list of selected candidates, even nearly six months after the interview. The recruitment was to be made under the Centrally funded Prevention of Infiltration of Foreigners (PIF) scheme, launched way back in 1987 to form a second rung of defence to detect illegal foreigners.

Under the scheme, there are 1,280 posts in the State police border branch. Ex-servicemen are also eligible for the posts – the highest ranking being that of an inspector. The Sainik Welfare Board also recommends candidates for the posts. The border branch personnel are posted at police stations and there are exclusively mandated to detect illegal foreigners.

Three years back, hearing a writ petition, the Supreme Court asked the Assam government to work “seriously” on building a strong second line of defence to check influx.

Sources said the Home department has prepared the list of selected candidates, but has withheld it for reasons best known to it. It is learnt that even the Chief Minister has approved the fil list of selected candidates.

There are now murmurs that a strong lobby which failed to push their candidates into the list, is stalling the recruitment process.

“It is strange that even after the Chief Minister has given his consent, the list is not out yet. It appears to be a conspiracy by certain extremely influential quarters,” said one of the candidates who appeared for the interview.