Gogoi claims improved law and order

Guwahati, May 2 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Wednesday complemented senior officials for improved law and order in the state but asked them to tame abductions and extortion.

"Though the overall law and order situation has improved following the laying down of arms by major militant outfits, incidents of kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and women and child trafficking have gone up," he said here.

Gogoi was speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day review meeting with Deputy Commissioner and Superintendents of Police.

Crime, he said, needed to be tackled with a firm hand.

He said the Assam government was planning a grading system based on the performance of Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police.

"We will reward the best performing districts with incentives based on this grading system. Evaluation and monitoring will be done by retired civil servants," he said.

The chief minister called upon the deputy commissioners to come up with innovative ideas for the welfare of the people.

He also appealed to the officials to make more field visits to feel the pulse of the people.