Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal said that Assam’s transformation in law and order is the direct result of decisive national leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as he addressed at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 10th Assam Police Battalion (APBN) in Guwahati.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said the changes in Assam’s policing framework since 2016 have been “structural, systemic and measurable,” moving far beyond incremental reform.

“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India embraced the concept of SMART policing — Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, and Tech-enabled and Trained. Assam aligned itself fully with this vision and transformed its policing culture,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal credited Amit Shah for redefining India’s internal security architecture by strengthening intelligence coordination, investing in infrastructure modernisation and shifting policing from a colonial-era force model to a citizen-centric, welfare-oriented service. An era of sustainable peace across the length and breadth of the country has been achieved under the able leadership of Union Home Minister.

“Policing in India was once perceived as distant and authority-driven. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji and able guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah ji, it has been transformed into a responsive, humane and service-oriented institution rooted in accountability and public trust,” Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Sonowal noted that the State Government ensured recruitment reforms in Assam and replaced opaque practices with transparent, merit-based and technology-driven processes, resulting in litigation-free large-scale recruitments — a first in the state’s history. Administrative restructuring, and expansion of personnel strength, strengthened grassroots governance and operational depth.

Sonowal said the MOITRI scheme — Mission for Overall Improvement of Thana for Responsive Image — transformed police stations into modern, citizen-friendly centers. More than 100 new police stations have been completed and hundreds upgraded, backed by record 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,” Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted initiatives such as cyber forensic laboratories, women’s cells, child-friendly police spaces and the Assam Police Sishu Mitra program, supported by a 24/7 Child Rights Resource Hub, as examples of policing becoming more humane and socially responsive.

Sonowal said technology has been integrated into everyday policing, including digital case tracking, online complaint systems and strategic use of social media for real-time grievance redressal and youth engagement.

Sonowal emphasised that sustainable peace in Assam and the Northeast was achieved through dialogue and decisive leadership. The signing of the Bodo Peace Accord in January 2020, along with agreements involving ULFA, NDFB and Karbi groups, marked a historic shift from insurgency to integration.

“More than 10,800 former militants returned to the mainstream and deposited over 1,500 weapons. This was not just a security achievement — it was a social transformation. Under the able leadership of Amit Shah ji, we have secured Sustainable Peace in Assam,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal said that peace and security have 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 in Guwahati, Sarbananda Sonowal said that the project represents continuity in Assam’s policing reform journey. Developed with an investment exceeding ₹260 crore and a built-up area of more than 42,000 square meters, the integrated campus combines 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,” Sonowal said, noting its strategic connectivity through National Highway 37 and the proposed Guwahati Ring Road to ensure rapid deployment and future scalability.

Sonowal concluded that the policing reforms supported by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah have positioned Assam as a national example of how strong leadership can convert 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.

  

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PN/IY

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