Nagaland Dy CM highlights challenges ahead for police force

March 25, 2023 18 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 25

Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister and in-charge of Home & Border Affairs Departments on Friday reminded the Nagaland Police force that it has several challenges ahead of it.

According to him, after the unfortunate incident at Oting in Mon district, the Committee set up by MHA to review the AFSPA had proposed lifting of AFSPA in 15 Police Station jurisdictions of Nagaland and “This meant that the primary role of maintaining law and order and tackling of insurgents has fallen on the shoulders of the Nagaland Police.”

As things continue to unfold and improve, with decreased factional violence, more Police Station areas can be expected to be removed from the application of AFSPA and Disturbed areas, Patton said, adding that it would “place additional burden and responsibility on Nagaland Police.”

Patton said that setting up of a Cyber Forensic Laboratory is need of the hour because in near future almost all crimes will have an IT or cyber interface.

Patton said that GoI has come up with new vehicle scrapping policy where all vehicles which are more than 15 years old would have to be scrapped and taken off-road. This policy, when implemented, would result in almost 30% of the vehicles being taken off-road and deal a body-blow to the working and efficiency of Nagaland Police.

Stating that police personnel are the eye, the ear of the department and the guardian of the citizens in terms of safety and security, he said “Therefore, people have high expectations upon them that in their presence the citizens are safe and to live in peaceful atmosphere.”

He, however expressed dismayed that “many police personnel are noticed to be under the influence of alcohol or drug abuse and that belittles or damage the image of the department as a whole in the eyes of the citizens.”

Patton said that such kind of misconduct or indiscipline behavior of the personnel should be checked sternly and necessary punitive action be taken.

He urged upon the DGP to have a look at all these issues that have been disseminated in a fast pace manner and devise a way forward so that the Government of Nagaland and Government of India can be approached to help upgrade Nagaland Police professionally to deal with existing and upcoming changes.

From 1000 in 1980s to about 26,000 in 2023

Stating that Nagaland Police has grown from 1000 people in 1980s to about 26,000 in 2023, the Dy CM said “ There is an urgent need to improve the efficiency of the department, which can be done by re-organization and restructuring the Police force so that better and optimal utilization of man power and resources can be undertaken.”

In the recent past, some improvements in infrastructure, logistics, FSL etc have been undertaken. CCTVs have been installed in Police Stations, CCTVs are being operationalized and new equipments have been purchased, however, the scale of availability of equipments is not adequate to meet our existing requirements, he said.

Stating that because of the hilly terrain and road conditions, the vehicles need constant repair and replacement, he said that faced with constraints on mobility, sometimes response in dealing with the law and order situation can be slow.

“Our Police force has been undertaking all efforts tirelessly. There is a feeling that IRB jawans are probably over used, overworked and fatigued,” he said adding that there is an urgent need to devise a mechanism to reduce work related stress and exhaustion of the IRB personnel, for which the DGP and PHQ should devise a policy on the matter.

Additional budgetary provision for purchase of logistic and equipments for investigation work is also required, he said adding that separate budget for investigation and FSL is imperative.

New age crimes like Cyber crimes, Cyber frauds, economic offences and breaches of cyber security also require additional and separate budget “because often such crimes have inter-state and international ramifications and origins,” he said.