Director General of Police Nagaland, Rupin Sharma, visited the Wokha District Executive Force (DEF) on August 17, for a meeting cum interaction with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and police officials at the SP Conference Hall in Wokha.
In his address, Sharma praised the DEF Wokha for their commendable performance during the 2024 Urban Local Body elections. He discussed several critical issues facing the state, including the Inner Line Permit (ILP), drug-related challenges, and improvements to the policing system.
DGP highlighted ongoing efforts to reform police patrols. He explained that while previously, the IR and patrolling teams would conduct seven to eight-hour patrols around the district, this approach showed limited impact.
To address this, since June, a new system has been implemented where simultaneous checks are carried out across the state. Initially, checks were conducted at 120 to 130 locations all over the state at the same time between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Last week, this number increased to 205, and on Independence Day, checks were conducted at around 300 locations. He emphasized that this synchronized approach is more effective and plans to increase the number of checks to 400, making the state safer through surprise checks.
Sharma also announced the upcoming introduction of a digital ILP system, which will improve efficiency and ease the workload for both police and administrative officials. Addressing the drug problem, he assured that investigations are ongoing and stressed the importance of public cooperation, offering a reward of Rs. 1,000 per soap case for information leading to the seizure of illegal substances.
He urged CSOs to support these efforts but cautioned against taking the law into their own hands, as it could have negative repercussions. The DGP also encouraged police officers not to wait for formal complaints but to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of the town. He noted that while crime reports have been relatively low this year, the preventive actions taken by the Wokha police have been effective. He warned that any police personnel found engaging in criminal activities would face suspension.
Addressing concerns raised by the CSOs regarding the border issue, he urged the public to refrain from using weapons or harsh language, which can escalate minor conflicts and create unnecessary animosity. Instead, he encouraged people to strive for good neighborly relations. He assured the public that the police are always ready to provide assistance when needed. Additionally, he stated that he would bring up the matter with the DGP of Assam to seek further resolution.
Superintendent of Police Wokha, Aotula Imchen, expressed her gratitude to the DGP for his visit, highlighting that it reflects his dedication to serving the community and improving the policing system. She urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to collaborate with the police, emphasizing that much more can be achieved through collective effort.
Additional SP Wokha, Soriso K. Quinker, acknowledged the vital role that CSOs have played in maintaining law and order in the district, working closely alongside the police.
SDPO Wokha, Sangthing Khiam, presented an overview of the crime statistics in DEF Wokha through a PowerPoint presentation. He reported that as of June 2024, 45 crimes have been registered so far , 141 cases in 2023, 89 in 2022, and 62 in 2021, 86 in 2020 and 76 in 2019.
An interactive session was also held at the programme. The program was attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Wokha, Vineet Kumar, police officials and representatives from Civil Society Organisations like the Lotha Hoho, Wokha Village Chairman, Lotha Eloe Hoho, Lotha Students’ Union, and Lotha Youth Hoho Dobashis etc.