Five arrested in New Market GB murder case, says Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma

DIMAPUR — Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma announced the arrest of five suspects in connection with the murder of New Market GB Abdul Kayum Talukdar who was fatally shot by unidentified assailants on the night of June 7.

The announcement came during a press conference held at the Chümoukedima Police Complex on Thursday.

Sharma however, declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.

New patrolling strategy

During the press conference, Sharma outlined a new patrolling strategy for enhanced security across the state. The approach will focus on shorter patrol shifts of lesser than 6-8 hours a day for Indian Reserve (IR) and Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) personnel and an increase in simultaneous vehicle checks at approximately 150 to 200 locations across the state.

Sharma acknowledged potential inconveniences to the public, such as brief stops at checkpoints, but urged cooperation, emphasising that the element of surprise is crucial for deterring and apprehending criminals.

He also encouraged the public to report suspicious activities or individuals, promising rewards for valuable information leading to arrests. He added that police officers who successfully apprehend criminals would also be rewarded.

Responding to a query about the arrest of Bahar Uddin, a notorious drug kingpin, from Sonitpur in Assam earlier in March this year, Sharma described it as a significant achievement for Nagaland police and northeast law enforcement. However, he acknowledged that larger figures are involved in the drug trade and remain on the police’s radar.

Sharma confirmed that Bahar Uddin, currently detained at Central Jail, Dimapur, is wanted in at least five cases in Nagaland.

Other new initiatives

The DGP also highlighted several new initiatives, stating that 15 police bikes are now equipped with GPS tracking, with plans to expand to 80 bikes. This will enable real-time monitoring of police deployments, facilitating quicker response times.

Among others, he also stressed the need for a robust tenant verification system to monitor and control the influx of anti-social elements into Nagaland. He also urged vehicle rental businesses in Dimapur and Kohima to implement more secure systems in collaboration with the police.

Plans are also underway to digitise the daily hotel occupancy reports currently submitted to police stations in hard copy, he said.

Further, he announced a crackdown on vehicles operating with “applied for” number plates, unregistered plates, or those illegally using government plates, and cautioned that such vehicles would be impounded.