Assam Police Sishu Mitra Leadership Award — Child Rights Policing

Sonitpur SSP Barun Purkayastha has been nominated for the 3rd Assam Police Sishu Mitra Leadership Award 2025 in recognition of his sustained work to advance child rights protection in the State. The nomination follows a rigorous assessment by an external jury, underscoring leadership, institutional impact, and rights-based policing practices.

Those awarded include Devojyoti Mukherjee, IPS (IGP, Border); Barun Purkayastha, IPS (SSP, Sonitpur); Nabaneet Mahanta, APS (SSP, Goalpara); Muzaffar Hussain, APS (ASP, Udalguri); Rituraj Doley, APS (ASP, Goalpara); Phulkan Narzary, APS (DSP, Sivasagar); Parmita Sarkar, APS (DSP, Nagaon); Zubin Bora, APS (DSP, Karbi Anglong) and Dr Niharika Kashyap Borgohain, APS (DSP, Goalpara).

Key points:

• 21 police officers in Assam were awarded for their efforts in promoting child-friendly policing practices.
• The awards recognise officers who showed sensitivity, empathy, and dedication while handling cases involving children.
• The initiative focuses on ensuring a safe, supportive, and non-intimidating environment for children interacting with the police.
• It highlights effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO Act provisions.
• The awarded officers played a key role in protecting child rights and ensuring child welfare.