In a significant move to recognise sensitive law enforcement, the Assam Police honoured 21 of its officers on Friday for their outstanding contributions to child protection. The awards were part of the third edition of the Assam Police Sishu Mitra Champion Awards, a key component of the broader Assam Police Sishu Mitra Programme.
Recognising Dedication to Juvenile Justice
The ceremony aimed to acknowledge and inspire police personnel who have shown exceptional dedication in securing justice for children. Director General of Police (DGP) Harmeet Singh stated that the programme involves sustained efforts to build the capacity of police to handle cases involving children with greater sensitivity and empathy.
The list of awardees includes several senior and mid-level officers from across the state. Among them are Devojyoti Mukherjee, IPS (IGP, Border), who received the prestigious Jury’s Choice Award. The jury specifically acknowledged his supervisory role in the investigations of the sensitive Nagaon and Hojai child abuse cases.
Honouring a Range of Officers
Other officers recognised for their work include Barun Purkayastha, IPS (SSP, Sonitpur); Nabaneet Mahanta, APS (SSP, Goalpara); Muzaffar Hussain, APS (ASP, Udalguri); Rituraj Doley, APS (ASP, Goalpara); Phulkan Narzary, APS (DSP, Sivasagar); Parmita Sarkar, APS (DSP, Nagaon); Zubin Bora, APS (DSP, Karbi Anglong); and Dr Niharika Kashyap Borgohain, APS (DSP, Goalpara).
In a move highlighting inter-departmental collaboration, Special Recognition Awards were also conferred on officials from the Women and Child Development department, Guwahati Medical College Hospital, and Pragjyotishpur Medical College. This was to acknowledge the vital contributions of individuals from key stakeholder departments in strengthening child protection systems and advancing child rights in Assam.
A Programme for a Kinder Police Force
The Sishu Mitra Programme represents a conscious shift within the Assam Police towards adopting more child-friendly procedures. This involves training personnel to interact with child victims and witnesses in a manner that minimises trauma and ensures their voices are heard effectively in the legal process.
By instituting these awards, the police leadership seeks to create role models within the force and encourage a wider adoption of compassionate and effective policing methods when dealing with society's most vulnerable. The third edition of the awards underscores the department's ongoing commitment to making justice more accessible and less intimidating for children across Assam.
