Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio officially flagged off a massive new fleet of 549 vehicles and 12 mobile forensic vans on Monday at the Police Complex in Chümoukedima. The acquisition, costing approximately Rs 81.65 crore, marks the primary output of a nearly Rs 150 crore police modernization initiative for 2025-26. These assets aim to replace 35 to 40 per cent of the state’s ageing police transport. This is a massive upgrade. The state previously received only Rs 4 to 6 crore annually for such efforts.
The diverse fleet includes 152 light motor vehicles, 325 medium vehicles, 68 heavy vehicles, four motorcycles, and various specialized units like ambulances and water tankers. Rio stressed that these vehicles must prioritize remote areas and operational needs rather than rank or seniority. The 12 mobile forensic vans are designed to bridge geographical gaps, as the state currently relies on a single forensic laboratory in Dimapur. These vans carry tools for fingerprinting, narcotics and explosives detection, cyber forensics, and biological sample collection.
DGP Rupin Sharma noted that the police force has historically focused on counter-insurgency, leaving investigative and forensic gaps. The shift aligns with new national criminal laws requiring mandatory forensic examination for crimes carrying sentences over seven years. Addressing this transition, Sharma stated, "Traditionally, Nagaland Police has been built up around armed policing." The state cabinet has now approved an independent Directorate of Forensic Sciences to bolster this scientific shift. Plans are underway to recruit legal officers, IT experts, and forensic specialists via the Nagaland Public Service Commission to fill five newly advertised technical posts.
On the July 13 IED blast that killed an Assam Rifles soldier, officials confirmed they are following multiple leads. While the state government proposed handing the investigation to the National Investigation Agency, the Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to formally communicate a decision. Meanwhile, ADGP Sandeep M. Tamgadge confirmed all investigating officers are undergoing mandatory training on the iGOT Karmayogi platform. Officers are also utilizing specialized workshops hosted by the NIA and NIELIT to handle emerging cybercrime and terrorism challenges.
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