Around 300 police officers in Assam will be offered voluntary retirement (VRS) due to their habitual drinking, according to an announcement made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The process of offering VRS has already begun, and fresh recruitments will be made to fill the vacancies.

Sarma, who holds the home portfolio, stated that the consumption of too much alcohol has damaged the bodies of these officers and jawans.

“Three hundred officers and jawans are habitual drinkers and consumption of too much alcohol has damaged their bodies. The government has a provision of VRS for them,” said CM Sarma.

He also aims to make the police a leaner and more honest force as part of his mission to overhaul the functioning of the administration. This announcement was made ahead of the second anniversary of the second BJP-led government in Assam, which falls on 10 May.

According to the Chief Minister, the decision to offer voluntary retirement to habitual drinking cops is not a new rule, but it was not implemented earlier. The officers who are given VRS will continue to receive their full salaries, while new recruits will fill the vacancies.

According to the report, several police officers have been suspended in the past for drunken outbursts during duty hours and using abusive language, even against their seniors.

During a virtual conference with senior officials and SPs, the CM emphasised the importance of physical fitness and instructed the top cops “cut the deadwood out of the police force”.

He added that officers “who are habitual drinkers, excessively obese, and have corruption cases against them will be given either VRS or CRS compensation”.

The DGP and other higher-ups were directed to ensure that officials participate in physical fitness exercises, visit police stations, register cases, and bring them to a logical conclusion.