CM urges reforms in police department

[caption id="attachment_116348" align="alignnone" width="560"] Chief Minister Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsü addressing at the 46th general conference of the Nagaland Police Service Association (NPSA) at Police Complex, Chumukedima on Friday.[/caption] Dimapur, May 20 (EMN): Chief minister Dr. Shurhozielie Liezietsu has advocated change or reform in the State police department from the faulty system including its administration and recruitment that has resulted in ‘excess appointments’ down to the constable level over the years. Dr. Liezietsü was addressing the police officers at the 46th general conference of the Nagaland Police Service Association (NPSA) held at the Police Complex, Chumukedima, as the chief guest on Friday. Stating that the recruitment process itself has attracted much criticism in the media and also in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly during the last budget session, the chief minister called upon the police officers to discuss on all issues confronting the Nagaland Police during the conference and come up with practical suggestions and solutions for consideration. Dr. Liezietsü, while exhorting the police officers, stressed that transfers should not be treated as punishment but it was the policy of the government to put right person in the place. ‘We want to put the right person in the right place,’ said Dr. Liezietsü in his address to the State police top brass. “Image is vital to effective policing and that can be earned only through the people who wear the uniform. You must also be aware that the largest chunk of the State's non-plan budget goes towards maintenance of the State's police force,” articulated Dr. Liezietsü. As a uniformed service, and the law enforcing agencies, you need to be fair, dedicated and more disciplined than other categories of government employees, he said. Citing the Government Servants' Conduct Rules, he said it requires that government servants refrain from actions which are unbecoming of government servants. With crime and its instruments becoming more sophisticated, he said the Nagaland Police have to ultimately brace up to the challenge and added that NPSA has a crucial role to boldly and enthusiastically embrace technology. NPSA president Vekhosa Chakhesang, while terming the conference as a time for NPS officers to congregate and introspect, said it is an appropriate platform to discuss issues confronting the NPS cadre and also those concerning the lower ranks. Chakhesang, taking opportunity of the occasion, highlighted on the little promotion scope and meagre allowances in comparison to other state cadres. He pointed out that the apathy of the State government towards the NPS cadre has affected the morale of the NPSA members. NPSA president, citing an alleged instance, accounted an incident where an NPS officer to the rank of IGP (VG) was not given an office to function. “The long pending and much awaited NPS cadre review is still under process,” pointed out the association president and called for restructuring of police administration. Pointing out at the practice of the NPS cadre who were confined to the police department alone, he cited that in other states the state police service officers were given opportunity to branch out to hold administrative posts in other allied services such as the Vigilance, Fire & Emergency Services, Transport, Disaster Management to name a few. With regard to allowances, the State exchequer may incur huge expenditure on the police department but as far as individual pay and allowances/perquisites are concerned, Nagaland Police stands at the bottom among the Indian states, maintained Chakhesang.