It's six months or VRS for Assam cops, says Assam CM and DGP GP Singh

Digital Desk: Following the directive of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam DGP GP Singh has given police employees of all ranks, including IPS and APS officers, three months (until August 15) to guarantee that they are physically fit to serve in the police force and are not obese.

DGP Singh stated that all police employees will be subjected to body mass index (BMI) assessments beginning August 16, and those who are found to be obese (BMI 30+) will be given an additional three months (until November 30) to lose weight and become physically fit for service. He stated that he would be the first officer in the department to have his BMI assessed on August 16.

He went on to say that individuals who are still obese after the second chance, unless they have legitimate medical reasons, will be granted VRS (voluntary retirement).

The effort was launched to remove police officers who are frequent drinkers, severely fat, and have corruption cases against them from the force.

On May 8, the DGP stated that Assam Police were verifying a list of 680 police officers of all grades who had been identified as frequent drinkers, excessively obese, or having corruption charges against them. He had stated that the list was being considered to ensure that the eradication of deadwood was not unwarranted.

He also urged officers to set a good example in terms of the physical fitness required for service. He also stated that all new recruits had received training on the importance of physical fitness.

On May 8, the State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB) announced the selection of nearly 5,400 individuals for various positions in several government ministries, including the police, that had submitted requisitions to the board.

Following this new recruitment, Singh, the SLPRB's chairperson, stated that there will still be approximately 5,000 vacancies in the police and all other departments that have submitted requisitions to the board.