Assam Police Day: A Journey from Colonial-Era Policing to a Modern Force
For Assam Police, October 1 is more than just another date on the calendar. Every year, the day is observed as Assam Police Day, commemorating a significant moment in the force’s post-Independence history — when K.R. Choudhury took charge as the head of Assam Police on October 1, 1951. His appointment is remembered as a landmark in the transition from colonial-era policing to Indian leadership.
But the story of Assam Police began much earlier.
How did Assam Police begin?
Before the British took control of Assam, there was no organised police force in the modern sense. During the Ahom period, maintaining law and order was largely the responsibility of the army and different officials of the kingdom.
After the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, the British initially used the army to maintain law and order. A semi-military force known as the Levy was subsequently created, laying the groundwork for the development of organised policing in the region.
A major change came with the Police Act of 1861, which was introduced in Assam in 1862. Eleven police districts were created, and the police administration was divided into different branches, including Civil Police, Frontier Police and Municipal Police.
October 1, 1951 — A Turning point
Independence brought another major transformation. The departure of British officers, Partition-related challenges and changes in the administration of Assam created a difficult period for the police force.
Against this backdrop, K.R. Choudhury assumed charge as Assam Police Chief on October 1, 1951. The date subsequently became associated with Assam Police Day and the beginning of a new phase of indigenous leadership in the force.
From a force primarily focused on traditional law-and-order duties, Assam Police gradually expanded its role and structure. Specialised wings such as the Criminal Investigation Department, Special Branch, Border Organisation, Radio Organisation, River Police, Fire Service and forensic services were developed over the years.
A force shaped by Assam’s turbulent history
Assam Police has operated through some of the state’s most difficult periods — from the political unrest of the pre-Independence era and Partition to the Assam Agitation of 1979–85, ethnic conflicts and insurgency-related violence in subsequent decades.
The force’s official history records the extensive law-and-order and security challenges faced during these periods, including attacks on police personnel and the loss of personnel in the line of duty.
The force also played a role during the 1962 Chinese aggression, when police personnel remained at their posts even as the security situation around Tezpur became critical.
The police force is changing with the times
Policing in Assam today goes far beyond conventional crime and law-and-order duties. Cybercrime, drug trafficking, crimes against women and children, human trafficking and technology-driven offences have become increasingly important areas of policing.
The force has also expanded its communication and technology infrastructure. Assam Police’s wireless communication network, for instance, evolved from nine high-frequency stations established in 1946 into a much broader communications system supporting policing and emergency response across the state.
Assam Police Day 2026
In recent years, Assam Police Day celebrations have included ceremonial programmes, tributes to personnel who died in service, recognition of outstanding police personnel and community-oriented activities such as blood donation camps. The 2022 observance, for instance, featured blood donation drives and recognition of personnel for their service.
So, October 1 is not simply a celebration of a police force. It is a reminder of how policing in Assam has changed over nearly two centuries — from an administration created under colonial rule to a state police organisation dealing with everything from traditional law and order to cybercrime and modern security challenges.
And at the centre of Assam Police Day remains the same idea: service to the people of Assam.
