Khagen Sarma bids adieu, Mukesh Sahay new DGP

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 30: Director General of Assam Police Khagen Sarma, a 1982-batch IPS officer, retired on Saturday, ending an impressive career spanning 33 years.

He was given a ceremonial farewell at the 4th APBn campus here where he took the salute.

Sarma, a career intelligence officer, turned nostalgic at the function.

"I become emotiol when I remember the sacrifices people made fighting militancy," a dewy-eyed Sarma told jourlists there.

On the threat from fundamentalist outfits, he said, "The jihadi threat has been there from the past and it continues to be there."

He disclosed that about a month back, he had a telephonic talk with ULFA military chief Paresh Baruah during which he urged the elusive rebel leader to contribute to the process of bringing lasting peace to Assam.

"I received cooperation from one and all. Of course there has been criticism at times. Sometimes we have to infringe upon the freedom of the people. When this is not done as per law, we are criticized and we have to take the blame for it. But too much criticism hurts the police," Sarma, who was instrumental in bringing 13 insurgents groups to the negotiating table and inking agreements with four others, said.

Mukesh Sahay, who took over as the new DGP, said his endeavour will be to establish a safe society. "I am prepared for the challenge. We are of late faced with new types of crimes," the 1984-batch officer said, adding that the fight against militancy is a continuous process.