Strong, efficient police force need of the hour: Pema Khandu

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday said that the pace of development would accelerate only when anti-social elements are kept at bay and peace prevails in the State, which, he asserted, amplifies the role of the State’s police force.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day annual conference of Superintendent of Police (SP) and Commandants of State police battalions and IRBn at the police headquarters here, the Chief Minister said a strong, efficient and responsible police force is essential for rest of the government machinery to give optimum results and therefore his government has prioritized strengthening it. “When you are safe and there’s peace everywhere you can focus only on developmental projects,” he said.

Khandu reiterated that despite its huge potential, Arunachal Pradesh has to depend on the resources from the Center. He called upon everyone to accept the fact that the State is not the only responsibility of the Center, which has to take care of the entire country. “We have to create and use our resources to the optimum so that dependence on the Center is lessened. This I assure can be possible once an efficient, responsible and accountable law and order machinery is at place,” he observed.

The Chief Minister appreciated the State police force for regaining the confidence and trust of the people in recent months under the leadership of Home Minister Bamang Felix and DGP RP Upadhyay.

Citing the examples of the encounter of the killer of Deputy SP Bomto Kamdak, arrests of drug peddlers and underground elements, seizure of huge number of stolen vehicles, Khandu said these instances, which are highlighted in the media, have gained the trust of the people.

The Chief Minister assured budgetary support to strengthen and equip the State police force and asked the department to focus and prioritize proposals that can be completed or implemented successfully in the next five years.

Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh with its distinct ethnic tribes, law and order issues, problems and challenges will be different from district to district and community to community. He suggested to the SPs to evolve innovative tactics specific to the district or community to deal with all law and order challenges.

“You must remember that policing in the State is completely different from the metros. Here the sentiments, ethos and sensitivities of the people are different that calls for inclusive and innovative tactics in policing. I advise you all to take the confidence of community leaders in all matters related to law and order,” Khandu suggested.

He hoped that the three-day conference would witness a fruitful discussion on new ways of policing, technology interventions and district, community centric innovations and bridging the gap between the people and men-in-uniform.

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