Assuming charge as the new Director General of Police of Assam, Mukesh Sahay on Monday said militancy has declined in the state but also has the potential to reignite.

"We cannot lower our guards or sit back and relax.

Militancy can rise from the ashes and we have to come up to meet the challenges," Sahay, who took over charge from the Khagen Sarmah, told reporters here.

Asked whether the change of guard in Myanmar would lead to change in the policy towards militancy, the new DGP said, "Irrespective of the situation in the neighbouring country, there is no change in the policy regarding militancy in the state."

After carrying out a subversive activity, militants in the North Eastern region usually flee to Myanmar where they have training camps.

"Militancy may have declined but it has the potential to reignite. We have to be constantly be on alert and formulate our response to any situation," he said.

Referring to existence of Islamic militancy in the state, Sahay said that both the Union and State governments are "cognisant of it and were prepared to tackle it with an effective responsive policy."

He said his priority would be to fight against militancy, control crime and ensure capacity building of the police force.

"Policing is always a challenge and will continue to be so. We have to constantly prepare ourselves for both existing and upcoming challenges," he added.

Referring to the issue of SMART policing, he said that the basic approach was to make the police force more responsive, tech savvy, physically fit, alert with a modern outlook and scientific temper.

Sahay, a 1984 IPS officer, was the Additional Director General of Police, CID, before taking charge as the DGP.

The outgoing DGP Khagen Sarmah on Monday retired after 33 years of service.

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