Assam: SOP for frisking women ADRE candidates, Nalbari incident to be probed

Guwahati: In view of the allegations made by a female candidate from Assam's Nalbari district stating she was “inappropriately” frisked while appearing for the Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE) on Sunday, state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the incident would be probed and the government will come up with a proper Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for frisking women candidates.

Taking to microblogging site X, Chief Minister Sarma said he has instructed the state police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh to investigate the Nalbari incident.

“My instruction to the police on the Nalbari incident. I spoke with the DGP Assam GP Singh and instructed him to investigate the incident where a girl student has alleged that a lady constable searched her private parts before she entered the examination hall,” the Chief Minister said in his post on X.

CM Sarma said that for him the dignity and respect of the mothers and sisters are of utmost importance and non-negotiable.

“For me, the dignity and respect of our mothers and sisters are of utmost importance and non-negotiable. The DGP also informed me of another incident in North Lakhimpur, where cheating material was recovered from the inner garment of a girl student on the same day,” he added.

Also Read: Assam: Female candidate alleges inappropriate body checks before ADR exam

The Chief Minister said the authorities have two crucial tasks before them – to conduct the exam with the highest level of integrity and transparency.

“We have two crucial tasks before us: To conduct the ADRE examination with the highest level of integrity and transparency. We owe this to the entire younger generation of ours, and it cannot be compromised under any circumstances,” Sarma informed in his post.

He said at the same time the authorities must ensure the decency and dignity of the female candidates are upheld at all times.

“At the same time, we must ensure the decency and dignity of our female candidates are upheld at all times,” he added.

CM Sarma further said a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be developed taking into account the relevant court judgments and guidelines from the Women’s Commission which will be circulated before the next round of examinations.

“Therefore, a proper SOP should be developed; taking into account the relevant judgments from the Hon’ble Courts and guidelines from the Women’s Commission regarding the conduct of searches involving women, and this must be circulated before the next round of examinations,” Sarma said.

On Sunday evening after the conclusion of the exam, a female candidate from Nalbari in a social media post shared her humiliating experience where she said a woman police personnel put her hands deep inside the lower part of her body and even touched her private area.