Assam to increase women police personnel

The strength of women in Assam police would be increased, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced here today.
"The national average of women in police is around ten per cent. In Assam it is little over four per cent. My immediate aim is to raise the strength of women in Assam Police to 15 per cent," Gogoi told mediapersons here.
Gogoi said he wanted it to increase to 50 per cent, but it was not possible in near future.
"Policewomen are more sensitive. Moreover, crime against women are increasing. So, a strong presence of women are needed in the force," said Gogoi who also holds Home portfolio.

The sanctioned strength of police is around 65,000 personnel, but around 14,000 posts were lying vacant now.
The Chief Minister said the women in Assam police are more assertive than their counterparts in other states like Uttar Pradesh.

"There are also less complaints of harassment by them," he said.
On setting up of police commissionerate for Guwahati, he said the government has finalised the structure and requires a Cabinet approval for a final go ahead.
Gogoi also announced that the state would soon have its first wildlife police station, comprising both police personnel and forest guards, in Kaziranga.
"The wildlife police station would help prevent poaching and other related crimes. It will not deal with crimes like robbery, kidnap or murder that the normal police stations do," he added.

Asked when the police station would come up, Gogoi said, "I have asked the department concerned to submit a proposal tomorrow. We will set up it as soon as possible."
Rhino poaching has become a big problem not only in Assam but also in Africa, he said adding the horn of a rhino was being trimmed to save the animal.
"We are also studying it (trimming of horn), but we have not accepted it yet," he added.
Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain had earlier said a committee was set up to study if trimming of the horn was possible without harming the animal.

Four rhinos have been killed by poachers this year in Kaziranga.