HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, March 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon of Golaghat district, said an official statement.
The police academy, inaugurated in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has been constructed with advanced training infrastructure and modern technological facilities.
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Additionally, the Union Home Minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of the academy’s residential complex.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarma remarked that, for the first time in 400 years since the birth of Lachit Barphukan, the Assam state government has established an institution dedicated to his legacy.
Sarma further expressed his gratitude on behalf of the people of Assam, and thanked the Union home minister for his guidance in the realisation of this endeavour.
“During the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of the brave general in New Delhi, the Union Home Minister had proposed translating his biography into multiple Indian languages and later visited Assam to inaugurate these translated works,” Sarma recalled.
Describing state Police as a distinguished institution of the state, Sarma stated that the Assam Police Academy in Dergaon has been instrumental in training officers and personnel, contributing to the development of a strong police force.
“₹167 crore have been allocated for the construction of the Academy’s main building and a police museum, and in the next phase, approximately ₹400 crore would be invested in residential facilities for police personnel and trainees,” he added.
He further announced further plans for a large-scale sports infrastructure within the campus, similar to the one in Sarusajai, Guwahati, a CBSE school, a nursing academy, and a skill development centre to benefit both the Assam Police and the local community.
“The state government is also considering establishing a police medical college within the campus in the future,” he stated.
Commenting on the law and order, the chief minister stated that Assam has made significant progress in law and order due to the state government’s sustained efforts over the past four years.
“The number of registered criminal cases has declined from 1,21,609 in 2020 to 50,215 in 2024, reflecting a 60% reduction in crime. The number of pending cases has decreased from 1,54,280 in 2020 to 14,800 in 2024. The charge sheet filing rate has increased from 47% to 66%, while the conviction rate has risen from 5.5% to 25%,” he noted.
He also stated a decline in cases of crimes against women, from 26,352 in 2020 to 5,000 in 2024.
The chief minister said that the recent improvement in law and order, along with a stable and peaceful environment, has brought notable changes to the lives of Assam’s citizens. He noted that the state has secured investment proposals worth ₹5.23 crore during the recently concluded Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit, marking a significant step towards sustained development.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of the Union Home Minister, Assam is advancing towards becoming a leading state in the country,” he said.
It may be noted that the Government of Assam has undertaken a project worth ₹1,024 crore for the infrastructural development of the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy. Spanning a total area of 1,022 bighas, the first phase of this project has seen the construction of a five-storey building equipped with smart classrooms. This newly inaugurated facility, built at an approximate cost of ₹167 crore, includes an arms simulator, a library, a computer laboratory, a research laboratory, a conference hall, and administrative offices. Furthermore, a dedicated museum has been established alongside a modern parade ground.
In the second phase of the project, an estimated ₹425 crore have been allocated for the construction of residential facilities within the academy. As part of this phase, the project would include residential quarters for 240 families, a hostel for 312 officers and staff, and a residential hostel to accommodate 2,640 trainees.
`The event was attended by the Union minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal; the Union minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita; minister of agriculture etc., Atul Bora; minister of Revenue and Disaster Management etc., Keshab Mahanta; minister of Finance etc., Ajanta Neog; minister of Water Resources etc., Pijush Hazarika; minister of Labour Welfare etc., Rupesh Gowala; MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa; and MLAs Mrinal Saikia, Bhabendra Nath Bharali, and Biswajit Phukan.
