GUWAHATI, OCT 1:
The Assam Chief Minister’s Office on Thursday issued a directive to all district commissioners and senior SPs to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the public due to his convoy movement.
The order stated that clear instructions had been earlier issued to all DCs and SSPs to ensure that ambulances, fire tenders and other emergency vehicles are not obstructed during the passage of VIP carcade.
“It is once again emphasised that under no circumstances should the movement of ambulances or other emergency vehicles be impeded on account of VIP carcade arrangements,” it said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had apologised on Wednesday to a patient and his family, after the ambulance carrying them was stopped to make way for his convoy in Silchar, following which four police personnel were suspended for alleged negligence of duty.
“Pursuant to yesterday’s directions by HCM Dr @himantabiswa, instructions have been reiterated to all DCs and SPs to strictly ensure there are no inconvenience caused to public during the passage of Chief Minister’s convoy – which has also been curtailed to a minimum compliant with security needs,” the CMO said in a social media post.
The order further said that traffic regulation during VIP movement must be managed to ensure no delay or obstruction is caused to emergency vehicles, and the carcade may be paused, if required, to facilitate their immediate passage.
Arrangements for convoy movement shall be made in such a manner that no inconvenience is caused to the general public and routine traffic is not unduly disrupted, it said.
The chief minister’s carcade shall be restricted to minimum number of vehicles required for security and essential operational purposes, the order stated.
Ministers, MLAs, officials and other dignitaries attending the same programme as the CM shall not form part of, or move with his carcade, but they should either proceed in advance to the destination or travel separately after his convoy passes, it said.
“Escort, pilot and security vehicles attached to accompanying dignitaries will not be merged with the chief minister’s convoy, and shall be regulated separately by the local administration and police,” it said.
Following Wednesday’s incident, Cachar SSP Partha Protim Das suspended four police personnel with immediate effect for alleged negligence of duty. Sarma was in Silchar to campaign for the October 3 municipal polls. (Source: PTI)
