Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio flags off 561 vehicles, boosting Nagaland Police mobility, forensic capabilities and statewide modernisation efforts
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DIMAPUR — Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday flagged off 561 vehicles, including 549 police vehicles and 12 mobile forensic vans, at the Police Complex in Chümoukedima, describing the induction as a major step towards strengthening the operational capability, mobility and forensic infrastructure of Nagaland Police.
The newly inducted fleet comprises 315 light motor/light commercial vehicles, 158 medium motor vehicles, 12 heavy vehicles, 64 two-wheelers and 12 mobile forensic vans procured under the Scheme of Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police (ASUMP) 2025-26 and the Modernisation of Forensic Capacities Scheme 2024-25.
At the launch, Rio said that effective policing requires adequate infrastructure, mobility, modern communication systems, advanced technology and trained manpower. While successive governments have worked to strengthen these capacities despite financial constraints, he said significant gaps still remain.
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Recalling a meeting with Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma in September last year, Rio said he was briefed on the police modernisation scheme, which presented an opportunity to substantially upgrade the force's infrastructure and operational capabilities with the state contributing only 10% of the project cost.
He shared that Nagaland had for many years received only about INR 4 crore to INR 6 crore annually under the police modernisation scheme. However, through the efforts of Police Headquarters, the Home department and support from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the state has now secured nearly INR 150 crore for police modernisation.
According to the chief minister, the funding will support mobility, Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems, CCTV surveillance, Smart Police Suite and other technology-driven initiatives aimed at improving policing.
Rio said that the procurement of 549 police vehicles, at an approximate cost of INR 81.65 crore, marks the first major outcome of the initiative.
He pointed out that Nagaland's difficult terrain and scattered habitations make mobility a critical requirement for policing. Nearly half of the state's police fleet had become outdated or unserviceable, affecting emergency response, crime prevention, investigations, disaster management and routine policing.
"The induction of these vehicles will replace around 35-40% of the ageing police fleet and significantly enhance operational readiness," he said.
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Highlighting evolving security challenges, the chief minister said that policing today extends beyond conventional law and order duties to tackling organised extortion, drug trafficking, cybercrime, financial fraud, human trafficking and crimes against women and children. He added that the implementation of the new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—requires faster, scientific investigations and stronger coordination among law enforcement agencies.
Rio informed that the government intends to provide additional mobile forensic vans to all districts and the Crime Investigation Department in the coming years to ensure serious crimes are investigated using modern forensic techniques.
Calling for Nagaland Police to evolve into a professional, investigation-oriented and community-centred force, he urged personnel to serve with integrity, compassion and respect for citizens' rights while strengthening community policing.
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Appealing to the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, Rio said that peace and security remain fundamental to Nagaland's development and that the newly inducted fleet symbolises the government's commitment to modern policing and public safety.
DGP Rupin Sharma said that the induction of the vehicles marked a significant step towards improving the force's mobility, responsiveness, forensic capabilities and public service delivery.
He credited the Ministry of Home Affairs and the state government, particularly the chief minister, for enabling the state to secure nearly INR 155 crore under the police modernisation scheme for 2025-26.
Sharma stressed the importance of timely release of central assistance and the state's 10% matching share, as well as speedy and quality utilisation of funds, warning that delays could result in the withdrawal or reallocation of funds and adversely affect future modernisation efforts.
He added that police modernisation must go beyond vehicles and equipment to include technology, forensics, cybercrime response, intelligence, data analytics and scientific investigation. He also underscored the need to strengthen specialised manpower, calling for the recruitment of forensic experts, legal officers, information technology professionals, translators and other specialists to make the Nagaland Police future-ready.