How safe is Assam's seat of government?

Discovery of uuthorized workers triggers security overhaul in capital complex

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 23: In a glaring security lapse, uuthorized persons have been found to be working at various government departments in the high-security State secretariat, a finding that has prompted a security overhaul at the Dispur capital complex.

These uuthorized persons were mainly involved in movement of files and other petty tasks.

Some of these people were brought by the secretariat staff, while some enjoyed the patroge of senior officials and ministers, it was alleged.

"It has come to our notice that some people are working in different departments of the secretariat by misrepresenting that they have been temporarily engaged or that they were engaged in the past by Secretariat Administration (zarat) department. It is hereby clarified that all regular Grade IV and fixed pay employees of Assam Secretariat have been issued hologrammed identity cards by the Deputy Secretary, SAD. No other person is authorized in any manner to handle official documents or execute any work in Assam Secretariat," a circular from the Secretariat Administration department to all heads of departments said.

The SAD also asked all department heads to carefully verify antecedents of peons. Any uuthorized persons, who represent themselves, are to be treated as "trespassers and may be handed over to security personnel."

The SP (security) has been asked not to allow entry of any such persons within the secretariat.

Following the directives, security has been tightened at the secretariat gates and personnel manning them have been directed to verify credentials of every person entering the complex.

Sources said there have been reports of files disappearing from the secretariat in the past.