Athlete Hima Das appointed deputy superintendent in Assam Police

Das’s appointment was decided by the state cabinet earlier this month.

Updated on: Feb 26, 2021, 20:03:54 IST

By Utpal Parashar, Guwahati

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Internationally acclaimed sprinter Hima Das was officially appointed deputy superintendent (DSP) in Assam Police on Friday.

Athlete Hima Das being felicitated with the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the Director-General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahant at the Sarusajai Stadium, in Guwahati on Friday. (ANI Photo)

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal handed over the appointment letter to the athlete at a programme held in Guwahati where 597 newly recruited sub-inspectors (SIs) were also inducted into the force.

Das’s appointment was decided by the state cabinet earlier this month as part of the government’s integrated sports policy to honour sportspersons, who win medals in international meets, with jobs in government departments.

Also read: No Covid-19 vaccination on February 27, 28 as Co-Win app gets upgrade

Das, who is known as the Dhing Express, after the place of her birth in Assam, won a gold medal in 400 m at the IAAF U20 World Championships in 2018 as well as several other medals in Asian Games and other events.

“I had a dream since childhood that one day I’ll join the police force. Today it has come true. I thank the state government, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other members of the cabinet for this honour. This move will inspire me and other sportspersons,” she said.

In his address, CM Sonowal said that the state government decided to adopt the sports policy to make sports a promising career option for the youth. He hoped that Das' appointment as the DSP would inspire youngsters to pursue sports more sincerely.

The appointment of SIs to Assam Police had got mired in controversy after the question paper of the written test got leaked. It led to the arrest of several people, including a sitting SP and a retired IPS officer. The exam that was postponed after the leak had to be conducted again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Mumbai, on Hindustan Times and more across India.