Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio with Deputy CM Y Patton and DGP Rupin Sharma at the flag-off of the new fleet of vehicles for the Nagaland Police at the Nagaland Police Complex, Chümoukedima, on July 4. (DIPR Photo)
DGP for evolving new approach to security
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 4
The general law and order situation is reportedly alright, as per the Nagaland Police chief. Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma made the comment at a press conference at the Nagaland Police Complex, Chümoukedima, on July 4, following a programme where the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio ceremonially flagged off a fleet of newly acquired vehicles for the state police. Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton was also present.
“We have had a fairly good success in all aspects of policing in Nagaland,” said DGP Sharma, while making mention of what he said was the police making drugs, arms and illicit liquor catches all across the state in recent months.
He also held that the state police did a “wonderful job” during the Urban Local Bodies and Lok Sabha elections.
The fleet of new vehicles included 35 Mahindra Boleros, 100 motorcycles and two Mobile Forensic Investigation Vans (MFVs).
According to Sharma, the idea is to get more vehicles for the state police for improved mobility. For a start, he said that 15 of the motorcycles have been outfitted with GPS and more will follow. He added that the GPS will not only monitor the whereabouts of the personnel but also enable quicker response to situations.
New approach
The DGP said that the state police are in the process of evolving a new approach to security. He did not go into details but one of it includes cutting the down the duty shift hours, which has traditionally been 6-8 hours for foot patrols, and by extension, enabling wider police presence. “The idea is to cover as many places as possible,” he said, while stating that at least one shift in a day “will be for a shorter duration.”
Simultaneous MVCP
The public should expect multiple Mobile Vehicle Check-posts (MVCP). According to the DGP, MVCPs will be conducted simultaneously in around 150-200 locations, across the state over the next week. He sought the cooperation of the public and the media in this initiative.
“There may be some inconvenience to the public, the same vehicle may be stopped at 2, 3, 4 places,” he said. As the new approach evolves, he said that the police will incorporate “scientific” measures to ensure that the general commuter is not inconvenienced multiple times.
He said that that the idea is to have an element of surprise and have ‘carpet coverage’ of security by working out a system where checks are affected for shorter durations but over a greater area.
Talukdar killing and Baharuddin cases
The police have so far arrested 5 persons in connection to the June 7 killing of Abdul Qayyum Talukdar, who was the Gaonbura of the New Market, Dimapur. The DGP said that the investigation was in the right track.
He termed the Baharuddin case, an alleged drug kingpin, a big success for the Nagaland police and the entire law enforcement community in the North East. Baharuddin, who was wanted in atleast 5-6 cases in Nagaland, was arrested from Assam’s Sonitpur district in March. He is currently lodged in the Central Jail, Dimapur.
Car rentals, hotels
There was one incident, the time and place of which was not disclosed, in which 110 ‘soap cases’ reportedly containing ‘Shan flower’ was caught from a rented car. The name of the rental firm was not disclosed, but the DGP said that it demands putting a system in place, requiring the firm to update the rental log to the police, daily.
Hotels are required to give a daily ‘statement of occupancy’ to the police. Denying space to criminals is the objective, he said.
UR, AF, NL 10
The DGP said that the police will start impounding vehicles with ‘UR and AF’ number plates. UR and AF are acronyms for ‘Under Registration’ and ‘Applied For.’
Vehicles acquired via government auction and still running with NL 10 number plates will also not be spared. He asserted that such vehicles, once impounded, will not be released. NL 10 is the RTO code for government-owned personnel cars. “I am not going to allow unregistered vehicles to ply on the roads,” he added.
Info sharing
The DGP informed that the state government recently approved a fund of Rs 25 lakh as “recurring amount” for doling out rewards to sources, who provide vital inputs, in solving a crime or making drug catches or arresting traffickers. The reward is also for police personnel. The Narcotics Control Bureau already has a similar scheme.
Safe Dimapur for safer Nagaland, say CM Rio
Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, Nagaland would be safer if crime in the commercial hub of Dimapur is curtailed. Rio made the remark, on July 4, in the Nagaland Police Complex, Chümoukedima, where he flagged of a new fleet of vehicles inducted into the Nagaland police.
He cited safety and security, particularly of the business community in Dimapur, as a big concern amid what he claimed was “remarkable economic growth in the state.”
“There is a significant amount of extortion, illegal taxation and (other) crimes, exacerbated by our proximity to Assam, which brings in all kinds of people, including criminals and other bad elements. If we can discipline and check crimes in Dimapur, the whole state will be safer,” he said.
He asserted that the police must be equipped with the latest technologies to amplify the performance of the state police. Given Nagaland’s vulnerable geographical location “in a triangle of drug trafficking and arms smuggling,” he said that the state government’s ‘war against drugs’ is giving results. In addition to the induction of new vehicles, he said that the two Mobile Forensic Investigation Vans would yield dividends in crime investigation.
Citing a recent visit to the Nagaland Police Headquarters in Kohima, he commended what he said was “the setup for tracking criminals” leading to many arrests. He added that more CCTV cameras should be installed where needed.
He reminded, “Police need to be transparent and careful in their duties because public appreciation is rare, and one mistake can overshadow all their good work,” he said.
Later, responding to media queries, Rio said that the people of the state were still with the NDPP, despite the PDA losing the Nagaland Parliamentary seat to the Congress in the elections to the 18th Lok Sabha. “We lost in the Lok Sabha but it was not a political defeat,” he said.
He held that the Urban Local Bodies elections were testimony that the people are still with the NDPP. He declined to comment on the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma holding a certain religion responsible for the resurgence of the Congress in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram in the Parliamentary elections. He said, “No, that you know, I know and everybody knows. I don’t have to make another statement.”
Patton says Govt committed to addressing policing needs
Deputy Chief Minister, incharge of Home, Y Patton, described the induction of new vehicles into the police department as a move to “fortifying our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.” As the nature of crime evolves, he said that it demands an agile and well-equipped police force.
According to him, the Nagaland Police have always demonstrated exceptional bravery, dedication and resilience and that the induction of new vehicles will further empower them.
“We understand that effective law enforcement requires not just vehicles and equipment, but also continuous training, adequate resources and a supportive environment,” he said, while claiming that the government was committed to addressing these needs.
He termed community involvement, a cornerstone of effective policing and appealed to the public to continue their partnership with the police.
