Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said fresh recruitment would begin for filling up 935 posts of police constables.
Referring to the recent Gauhati High Court order quashing the appointment of 935 Nagaland Police constables, Sharma said the court’s objection was based on the lack of advertisement for the posts.
He was speaking to media persons on the sideline of the Police Commemoration Day observed at Police Headquarters (PHQ) here on Monday.
DGP assured that the posts would be advertised for fresh recruitment in due course of time. He acknowledged that the affected police constables had the right to seek legal remedies, including appeals or revisions, assuring that the Nagaland Police would comply with any court order during the process.
On the issue of drug trafficking, Sharma claimed significant progress had been in curbing the flow of drugs through Nagaland, though challenges remained.
He estimated that law enforcement agencies intercepted only about 10% of the drugs being trafficked, noting that smugglers used various methods to evade detection. He highlighted the involvement of about a thousand traffickers from Manipur and pointed to ongoing efforts to apprehend them despite the challenges posed by the state’s current law and order situation.
Sharma revealed a surprising trend of drugs being trafficked from Myanmar through Dimapur and Kohima, and then back to the eastern districts of Nagaland.
He lauded the cooperation of village councils in Mon and Tuensang for being instrumental in identifying drug traffickers, and urged the public to come forward with information, assuring them of confidentiality.
Police Commemoration Day observed in Kohima
Earlier, the State police along with the rest of the country, observed the ‘Police Commemoration Day’ at Police Headquarters (PHQ) where officers and police personnel paid tributes to the personnel who laid down their lives while performing duties across the country.
In his address, DGP Rupin Sharma highlighted the historical significance of the day, tracing its roots to a pivotal event in 1959. He recalled that on October 21, 1959, a CRPF mobile patrolling party led by DCIO Karam Singh was ambushed by Chinese troops in the Aksai Chin area of Ladakh.
Ten personnel were killed on the spot, and the remaining members were taken prisoner.
The bodies of the fallen were handed over by the Chinese on November 13, 1959, and the valiant men were cremated at Hot Springs, Ladakh, at an altitude of 16,000 feet on November 14.
In memory of the sacrifices made by policemen nationwide, the DGP said that heads of police forces from across the country in 1960 decided to observe October 21 each year as Police Commemoration Day.
On this day, the country pays homage to all police personnel who died in the line of duty during the preceding year. He disclosed that 214 police officers across India had made the supreme sacrifice over the last year while working to ensure the integrity and security of the nation, providing a secure environment for economic development and individual prosperity.
Acknowledging the four Nagaland Police personnel who had lost their lives while carrying out their duties under challenging circumstances in the past one year, Sharma praised the unwavering dedication of the Nagaland Police personnel who, despite missing festivals and family events, ensured the safety and security of the state.
Their efforts, mentioned, were particularly evident during the peaceful conduct of two state elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, even amid extreme weather conditions.
He emphasised that Police Commemoration Day was not only an occasion for mourning but also a celebration of the spirit of selfless sacrifice of the police personnel. He urged them to renew their commitment to serving the people and maintaining the integrity of the nation, even at the cost of making the supreme sacrifice when needed.
Assistant inspector general (coordination) Tokavi Achumi read out the roll of honour containing names of the 214 fallen police personnel, which was followed by the traditional wreath-laying ceremony by various police units and senior officers.