Assam minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday held a review meeting of measures taken by the city police in Guwahati in the fight against COVID19 at the police reserve in the city.
Sonowal appreciated the steps taken by the city police to distribute foods to 5,000 people daily in Guwahati with the help of NGOs.
The chief minister hailed the action taken by Guwahati Police to keep 3 persons arriving from China in quarantine for 28 days in the last week of February, much before the pandemic took alarming proportions in the county.
He credited the strict measures taken by Assam Police for successful observance of lockdown in the state.
Sonowal reiterated the crucial role of police in the execution of relaxation of certain sectors during the 2nd phase of lockdown.
He said Assam Police have turned out to be the friends in need for the people in distress through their dedicated and exemplary service.
People of the state would remember this dedication till eternity and the faith of the people in police would keep on motivating the police personnel to carry out their duties more vigorously in future, he said.
During Saturday’s review meeting, the chief minister also interacted with the deputy commissioners of police and traffic police officials and asked about their difficulties and experiences while performing their duties.
The chief minister also called on the city police to keep a close watch on violation of law and order cases like theft and robbery, drug paddling in railway stations, bus stands and parks.
He also directed the police to get in touch with leading citizens of the society while urging them to create awareness among the people of Muslim community to conduct Namaz rituals in their houses during the holy month of Ramadan.
DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, ADGP (Law & Order) GP Singh and Commissioner of Police for Guwahati Munna Prasad Gupta along with other top police officials were present in the meeting.
Later talking to the newsmen in the police reserve premises, the chief minister informed that the state government has taken steps for bringing back a total of 360 people, out of which 320 were students from Kota in Rajasthan by bus.
He said the city police have taken adequate security measures in the quarantine areas where these returnees would be kept.
Nearly 5,000 people, who were stuck in Guwahati due to the lockdown, have been sent by 320 buses to their respective places and the police have played an important role in this as well, he said.
The chief minister stressed on the need to maintain social distancing during the three days when state government has allowed inter-district movement of people.
Guwahati Police have registered 83 cases and arrested 490 people for violation of lockdown, apart from seizing of 9,106 vehicles and levying a total of Rs. 57,19,100 as fines.