Nagaland Police prioritises ‘War on Drugs’ as primary focus area

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 25

Nagaland Police took an anti-narcotics pledge, committing “not to engage in the production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transportation and consumption of psychotropic substances.” The pledge was administered by Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, in charge of Home & Border Affairs, during a meeting with senior officers and unit commanders at PHQ Kohima on Friday.

“I am aware that engaging in the above activities is an offence under Nagaland Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985,” the Nagaland Police personnel pledged. They also pledged to bring to the notice of the authorities about any NDPS-related activities and make efforts to make India drug-free.

DGP Nagaland Rupin Sharma stated that the Nagaland Police is possibly the first police force in the country to administer such a pledge to all its personnel. Sharma said prioritised the ‘War on Drugs’ as the department’s primary focus area after assuming the role of DGP in January. Even in discussions with the Chief Minister and Deputy CM, they agreed that this has to be a focus area, Sharma said while emphasizing the need for a multi-pronged approach and education of police personnel about the seriousness of the problem.

Later, Sharma requested police personnel who are addicted to drugs or alcohol to voluntarily come forward for rehabilitation. Otherwise, they face suspension or termination from service if caught by the department.

Expansion of own FSLs

Dy CM Y Patton said that stern action should be initiated against police personnel who are found under the influence of intoxicants while on duty. He said that combating the drug trafficking menace also requires investment in investigation, investigation techniques and FSL facilities.

“With spurt in registration of cases pertaining to drug trafficking, none of the FSLs in the Northeast are willing to accept our samples for examination. This leads to delays and also requires additional funds because we will have to send samples to Gujarat for testing. Every sample requires Rs 5000 for examination besides TA/DA for officers who transport the sample. Under these circumstances we need to consider expansion of our own FSL,” Patton said.

 ‘We need to be prepared’
Sharma stated that the meeting with senior officers and unit commanders of Nagaland Police, held after the recent peaceful conduct of elections, addressed various issues that the police personnel will be confronting in the future. These issues include the forthcoming G-20 Summit in Kohima, ULB elections, a possible ENPO arrangement and a Peace Accord, the removal of AFSPA from additional police station areas and jurisdictions, and the drug menace and crimes such as extortion and inter-factional disturbances that disturb law and order in the state. “We need to be prepared for all these,” he said.

Sharma emphasised the need for proactive identification and narrowing down of potential flashpoints such as inter-tribal, factional, or village disputes and agitations by various NGOs, CSOs, and adhoc organizations. He also stressed on seeking solutions or advising the Government to break deadlocks or take pre-emptive measures, stating that “This is an area of priority.”

“Our society has some peculiar features where the village and tribal level units are important. So are some of the CSOS and NGOs. We would like to devise actively associate with each stakeholder by creating ‘formal linkages’ so that policing can be synergized and an effective police-public partnership can be developed,” he said.

Sharma stated that the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code and Rules for Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland provide ample legal basis for coordination and urged the public and CSOs to help but to act within the confines of the law. He also mentioned plans to work out mechanisms for cooperation and organize training programs for the public in law enforcement and police at various levels, starting from schools to villages. 

Since most districts and police stations do not have too much active policing work, we would like start training programs for the public in law enforcement and police at various levels starting from schools to villages, he said.

‘Need to establish linkages’
Sharma also stressed on the need to establish linkages between the traditional, customary methods and the modern policing. “We need to integrate these. Crimes or matters which fall within the ambit and jurisdiction of villages, the village councils and their competence need to be documented and linked with policing for effectively securing lives of people. We will try to devise mechanisms for this,” he said.

Stressing on the need to uplift investigation skills and component -qualitatively and logistically, he said “We are working on a plan to project our requirements to the government. Policing, in modern times is not merely brawn but brains and law. We need to shift from danda to kanoon.”

Reviving public trust
DGP said that free and open registration of crimes and cases is important to revive the public trust in policing.

“Enhanced crime figures should not be seen as ineffectiveness in maintenance of law and order but as a proof of the public trust. We should encourage registration of crimes as proof of public faith in us and the Government,” he said.

He requested the Dy Chief Minister to help Nagaland Police in advocating this with the Government so that increased crime figures are not seen as breakdown of law and order but as a proof of trust in the police department.

“With greater registration would come greater trust and also better resources as the police would be required to respond to more cases than we are now doing,” he said.

Stating that Supreme Court of India and Gauhati High Court have been pushing for separation of investigation and law and order functions, he said, “We are trying to devise a mechanism.”

The meeting was chaired by Limasunep Jamir, IGP (Range) while vote of thanks was proposed by Renchamo P Kikon, ADGP (Adm) Nagaland.