Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, hailed Assam’s transformation in law and order as a result of decisive national leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 10th Assam Police Battalion (APBN) in Guwahati. Highlighting structural and systemic reforms since 2016, Sonowal said Assam has moved beyond incremental changes to adopt a modern, citizen-centric policing model, making the state a benchmark for law enforcement reform in India.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal elaborated that the changes in Assam’s policing framework have been “structural, systemic, and measurable.” He said the state has fully aligned with India’s SMART policing vision—Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, and Tech-enabled and Trained—ushering in a transformative policing culture.
Sonowal credited Home Minister Amit Shah for strengthening India’s internal security architecture through improved intelligence coordination, infrastructure modernisation, and shifting policing from a colonial-era force model to a welfare-oriented, citizen-centric service.
“Policing in India was once seen as distant and authority-driven. Today, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah, it has become a responsive, humane, and service-oriented institution rooted in accountability and public trust,” Sonowal said.
He highlighted the Assam government’s efforts in recruitment reforms, replacing opaque processes with transparent, merit-based, technology-driven recruitment, resulting in large-scale, litigation-free recruitment—a first in the state’s history. Administrative restructuring and expansion of personnel strength have further strengthened grassroots governance and operational efficiency.
The MOITRI scheme (Mission for Overall Improvement of Thana for Responsive Image) has transformed police stations into modern, citizen-friendly centers. Over 100 new stations have been built and hundreds upgraded, with infrastructure investments exceeding ₹1,500 crore.
“These investments reflect the Modi government’s belief that strong institutions require strong infrastructure. But infrastructure alone is not enough; it must be matched with compassion and professionalism,” Sonowal emphasised.
He also spotlighted initiatives such as cyber forensic laboratories, women’s cells, child-friendly police spaces, and the Assam Police Sishu Mitra programme, supported by a 24/7 Child Rights Resource Hub, showcasing policing that is both humane and socially responsive.
Technology has become an integral part of everyday policing, with digital case tracking, online complaint systems, and strategic use of social media for real-time grievance redressal and youth engagement.
Sonowal said sustainable peace in Assam and the Northeast has been achieved through dialogue and decisive leadership. Key milestones include the Bodo Peace Accord in January 2020 and agreements with ULFA, NDFB, and Karbi groups, marking a historic shift from insurgency to integration.
“Over 10,800 former militants returned to the mainstream and deposited more than 1,500 weapons. This achievement is not only about security but also social transformation. Under Amit Shah’s leadership, Assam has secured sustainable peace,” Sonowal said.
Peace and security have also enabled industrial growth, infrastructure expansion, and investor confidence, positioning Assam as a gateway to the Northeast’s economic development corridor.
At the 10th APBN foundation stone laying ceremony, Sonowal said the project symbolises continuity in Assam’s policing reform journey. Developed with an investment of over ₹260 crore and covering more than 42,000 square meters, the integrated campus includes residential, operational, and advanced training facilities.
“This battalion is not merely a security installation. It is a symbol of a modern, professional, and welfare-oriented policing system,” he said, noting its strategic connectivity via National Highway 37 and the proposed Guwahati Ring Road for rapid deployment and future scalability.
Sonowal concluded that the reforms supported by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah have positioned Assam as a national example of how strong leadership can transform law enforcement into a pillar of development.
“Strong policing has enabled strong governance. And strong governance is building a stronger Assam and a stronger India,” Sonowal said.
