Centre releases Rs 520 crore for modernisation of Assam Police

GUWAHATI: The Centre has released Rs 520.21 crore since 2004 to modernise the Assam Police, the state Assembly was informed today.

In a written reply to a query by AGP MLA Utpal Dutta during the ongoing Budget session of the Assam Assembly, Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain said the amount was received between 2004 and 2013-14.

"Out of the total amount, Rs 68.99 crore have been spent on purchasing of vehicles and Rs 92.49 crore were used for arms and ammunition," Hussain said.

Replying on behalf of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who also holds the Home portfolio, Hussain said the police department currently has a total of 5,270 vehicles, of which 2,532 are two-wheelers and the rest are four-wheelers and other higher carriage capacity vehicles.

For running these vehicles, the Assam Police has spent Rs 384.55 crore in purchasing petrol and diesel between 2004-05 and 2013-14, the Minister added.