GUWAHATI, Feb 5 — To cope with the changing scenario where insurgents are coming up with more and more sophisticated weapons, the Assam police has come up with new methods of training and commando training has been introduced for policemen from the ranks of sub-inspectors to constables. The Inspector General of Police (Training and Armed Police), Sri B P Rao told The Assam Tribune that the training curriculum needs to be amended regularly to cope with the changing scenario. He said that the Bureau of Police Research and Development is of the view that since the police forces have to maintain internal security and to fight the forces bent upon causing disruptive activities, the police personnel should be better trained and equipped. There is suggestion from the Bureau that after completion of the basic training, all policemen from sub-inspector to down below should have at least four months of commando training and that suggestion is being implemented by the Assam police in a phased manner.
Sri Rao pointed out as facilities for commando training are not adequate in the State, the State police has requested Central agencies like the National Security Guards (NSG), Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITDP) to impart the training. He revealed that one batch of State policemen has already been sent to the training under the NSG, while, some policemen are given training by the Army near Tezpur. He said that the Assam police, on its own has also started commando training facilities in the headquarters of three battalions, where the topography is suitable for such training. These are the 5th Battalion located near Haflong, Assam police commando Battalion at Mandakata and the 2nd Assam Police Task Force Battalion near Lumding. The IGP said that two new battalions of Assam police were raised about eight months back and the new recruits are receiving the commando training, while, the existing personnel are also being given the training on rotation basis, provided they are fit to receive such training. In addition to that, almost all the battalion headquarters have their own shooting ranges and every policemen should fire the weapons he is supposed to handle, at least once a year. The IGP admitted that shortage of ammunition hampered such practice for some time but “the situation has now improved and we do not have any shortage of ammunition for shooting practice at present.” Moreover, in-service training for personnel posted in the battalions is on to keep the men fit, he added.
As the militants have started to use more and more sophisticated weapons, efforts are on to equip the policemen with modern weapons to match the firepower of the insurgents. Sri Rao said that the process is on to equip the policemen with AK series rifles and SLRs and gradually the old 303 rifles will be totally replaced with automatic weapons. The policemen now also use grenades, grenade-firing rifles, two-inch mortars, etc depending on the situation. Sri Rao said that as the militants have started to use modern explosives, some policemen were sent for training in handling of explosives under the Army and Border Security Force (BSF) and after the training, they were posted in different districts. However, he admitted that the number of persons trained to handle explosives is not adequate and very often the police has to take the help of the Army to defuse bombs.
Replying to a question whether any move is on to train up police personnel in the Jungle Warfare School of the Army at Mizoram, Sri Rao said that normally the militants do not operate in the jungles. “The jungle warfare training will be necessary only if we have to storm their camps located in the jungles and in such cases we can always take the help of the Army or other Central forces,” he added. Commenting on the lack of fitness of a number of police personnel posted in the police stations, Sri Rao said that to deal with the problem, the recruitment policy for constables has been changed. As per the new policy, there would be no direct recruitment for the police stations and constables would be appointed in the battalions and only after completion of at least five years in battalions, the constables would become eligible for appointment in districts or police stations.