KOHIMA — Nagaland’s Director General of Police (DGP), Rupin Sharma, issued a stern warning against anyone providing aid or shelter to absconding suspects wanted in the Diphupar abduction case.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of an event in Kohima on Monday, Sharma said that anyone found assisting the absconding members of the Niki Sumi-led NSCN (K) would face the full force of the law.
According to the DGP, police investigation has made substantial progress and identified the suspects who have now gone into hiding. He assured that the police are pursuing all leads to arrest them as soon as possible.
He advised the public to exercise caution, as the police have circulated detailed information about the suspects and announced rewards for information leading to their arrests. He reminded that while rewards are being offered, the police will show no leniency towards those found aiding or harbouring the fugitives.
“So, if you are interacting with them, harbouring them, or sheltering them, please be careful because you will face the law and the wrath of the public in due course of time,” he added.
He further requested the Niki-led group to help the police locate the cadres, adding that this would be a good opportunity to build positive relations with both the police and the public.
Addressing concerns about rising abduction and extortion cases, mostly in Dimapur and Kohima, the DGP assured that the police, in collaboration with the Assam Rifles and other agencies, have heightened security measures, including deployment of additional personnel, uniformed and undercover, as well as increased surveillance efforts to gather intelligence and prevent such incidents.
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Sharma assured the public that the police are committed to protecting the identities of informants, and have successfully intervened in numerous cases, resulting in the seizure of weapons and ammunition and the rescue of individuals. He urged the public to play their part by sharing any information that could aid in investigations.
Recognising the challenges individuals face in reporting abductions and extortion, he encouraged the use of civil society organisations and NGOs as intermediaries for filing complaints. This, he explained, would keep concerned individuals safely behind a “curtain.”
Additionally, he said that citizens can report information to the police through various channels, whether it’s approaching a constable on patrol, visiting a police station, or even contacting him directly.
Open to CGR amendments
On the subject of ceasefire ground rules (CGR), the police chief noted that the existing rules, established through agreements between various factions and the government of India, are in most cases quite old.
Suggesting that the ground rules should be dynamic, he said that any problems in their implementation should be addressed. He added that any ambiguities should be resolved.
“If it can be done through interpretation at the level of the Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group, the Ceasefire Monitoring Group, or the Ceasefire Supervisory Board, the Nagaland Police and the Nagaland government would welcome that. However, if there is a larger issue of interpretation and the government of India has to be approached for mutual agreement to amend the ground rules, the Nagaland Police and the Nagaland government are open to that,” he added.
Police constable recruitment
Regarding the recent High Court decision to quash the appointment of more than 1000 police constables, Sharma said that the ruling was made on the basis that the posts were not publicly advertised.
“In due course of time, we will advertise those posts for recruitment”, he said, adding that the department is undertaking measures to advertise the posts.
“We just have to wait for a while. We are completing the administrative processes involved, as we have directions to complete them within six months,” said the DGP. He reiterated that the constables have legal remedies, and during the process, if they obtain any other orders in their favour, the police department will follow those instructions as well.
Progress in fight against drugs
The DGP also spoke on the ongoing battle against drug trafficking, claiming that the state has made progress in curbing the flow of narcotics through Nagaland.
“It is very difficult to catch every gram or kilogram of drugs. I think our progress would be about 10% of the drugs flowing through Nagaland. We may not be able to intercept everything because criminals use multiple methods,” he said.
He went on to explain that most traffickers transport drugs in trucks, and with hundreds of trucks travelling daily from Manipur to Assam, it becomes difficult to inspect all the vehicles unless there is specific information. However, the police are making decent progress.
He also revealed that the state police have compiled a list of about 1000 individuals suspected of involvement in drug trafficking in Manipur. However, due to the ongoing situation in the neighbouring state, there are some challenges as Manipur police are occupied with their own law and order issues.
In the context of Nagaland, the fight has been quite successful, he said, attributing it to collaboration between government agencies and public support.
New trafficking patterns
Further, Sharma said that there has been a shift in drug trafficking patterns in recent months. While it was previously believed that narcotics primarily entered Nagaland from Myanmar through the eastern border districts, recent arrests have revealed a new trend. The police and Assam Rifles have apprehended several individuals transporting drugs from Myanmar through Dimapur and Kohima back towards the eastern districts, including Mon and Tuensang.
“This is a very surprising trend that we have noticed, so I think people need to be aware of this,” he added.
He commended the village councils of the eastern districts, particularly in Mon and Tuensang, for their assistance in identifying individuals involved in the drug trade, stating that their cooperation has been vital in corroborating information.
Sharma urged all citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking, assuring them that their identities would be kept confidential.