The Special Branch came into existence in 1965 under the command, control and supervision of one Deputy Inspector General of Police. Subsequently, this position was upgraded to that of an Additional Director General of Police who exercises overall command, control and supervision of the Special Branch.
The branch deals with the collection, collation and dissemination of intelligence having security and law and order implications. It usually deals with sensitive matters like public agitation, subversive activities which carry potential and real danger to the security of the state and the nation. Security matters of the vulnerable persons, vital installations and key industries also fall within its purview.
With the development and use of sophisticated technology in the electronics field, the Special Branch has geared itself to keep pace with these developments by upgrading itself in all spheres during the last couple of years. It has made significant improvements in using modern techniques and in the re-structuring as well as in the re-deploying of its personnel to cater to the needs of effective intelligence.
Description and Functions
The work of the Special Branch is carried out through two different set ups:
1. Headquarters set-up
2. District Special Branch (DSB) setup in the districts.
The entire work handled by SB HQRS has been categorized into Sections to exclusively deal with earmarked subjects and each section has a staff varying from 10 to 15 in the rank of Inspector, Sub Inspector and Constable.
The DSBs are administratively under the Special Branch Headquarters but operationally under the respective Superintendent of Police of the District. It has an effective network of intelligence and has been rendering valuable service to the State.
There is a Special Operations Unit (SOU) to deal with activities of militant organizations and important cadres which has been notified as a Police Station. The S.P. of Special Operations Unit exercises the power of an Officer in Charge of a Police Station.
Organizational Set-up
| S. N. | Name of Post | Sanctioned Strength |
|---|
| 1 | ADGP (SB) | 1 |
| 2 | IGP (SB) | 1 |
| 3 | IGP (S) | 1 |
| 4 | DIG (SB) | 1 |
| 5 | DIG (S) | 1 |
| 6 | SP, SB | 7 |
| 7 | Addl. S.P. | 3 |
| 8 | Dy. S.P.(HQ) | 16 |
| 9 | Dy. SP, DSB | 18 |
| 10 | Inspector | 107 |
| 11 | Sub Inspector | 435 |
| 12 | ASI | 374 |
| 13 | HC | 342 |
| 14 | PSO/Hav. | 1500 |
| 15 | NK | 43 |
| 16 | Constable | 632 |
| 17 | Driver constable | 120 |
Achievements
- In Nov, 2013, Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement was signed with NDFB (RD) group. With this NDFB (RD) faction, total 13 nos of militant groups under SoO. These include -
(1) NDFB (P) (National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Progressive)
(2) ULFA (PT) (United Liberation Front of Assam) Pro-Talk)
(3) KLNLF (Karbi Longri N.C. Hills Liberation Front)
(4) NDFB (R) (National Democratic Front of Bodoland - Ranjan group)
(5) ACMA (Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam)
(6) BCF (Bircha Commando Force)
(7) KRA (Revolutionary Govt. of Kukigam (RGoK)/ Kuki Revolutionary Army)
(8) UKDA (United Kukigam Defence Army)
(9)KLO/ KLA (Kuki Liberation Organization/ Kuki Liberation Army)
(10) HPC (D)(Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic)
(11) APA (Adivashi People’s Army),
(12) AANLA (All Adivashi National Liberation Army and
(13) STF (Santhal Tiger Force). - Adivashi militant outfit NSLA (National Saotal Liberation Army) and Reang militant outfit UDLF (B) have declared unilateral ceasefire w.e.f. 03/08/2012 and 20/02/2013 respectively under the coordination of SB HQRS. thus expressed their willingness to solve their demands through discussion.
- On 8th Oct, 2012, MoS was signed with DHD (Nunisa) and DHD (Jewel).
- In the Islamist militancy front, one module of the Jamat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB) was successfully busted. In this regard, 14 persons were arrested till 20th Jan, 2015 (7 of them underwent training in Simulia and Mukimnagar Madrassa of West Bengal) and 10 bombs have been recovered. This was a sequel to the development of the Khagragarh blast on 02/10/14 in Burdwan district of West Bengal where involvement of JMB (a Bangladesh based Islamist outfit) came into light.
- Following the pogrom in Sonitpur and BTAD by NDFB (S) since 23rd Dec, 2014, where Adivashi community were selectively targeted by the outfit that lead to the loss of 78 lives, the operation against the outfit intensified which resulted in the arrest of 181 nos. of NDFB (S) cadres and linkmen till 13th Feb, 2015 that included few top level leaders of the outfit. A huge cache of assorted arms and ammunition, sophisticated arms like AK47, AK56, HK33, M16, M22, 9mm pistol, ammunition, grenades etc. were recovered.
- During the period 2011-2015 (till 12th Feb, 2015) Security Forces apprehended 3,621 cadres of different militant groups. The security forces also recovered 1,425 nos. of assorted arms, 683 nos. of grenades, and cash Rs.1, 47, 43, 000/- from extremist elements. During the above period, all total 261 militants of different outfits were killed in encounter with Security Forces and 278 civilians got killed in extremist related violence.
