Reduce deployment of police personnel on security duties, says Nagaland dy chief minister

Nagaland deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton attended a meeting with senior police officers including DGP Rupin Sharma

KOHIMA: Nagaland deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton on Friday said 3,000 state police personnel were deployed for personal protection and non-police duties and that he has asked for a review to reduce the figure.

Nagaland director general of police (DGP) Rupin Sharma (Left) and deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton at a conference with senior police officers on Friday (Twitter/YanthungoPatton)

“It is learnt that almost 3,000 personnel of Nagaland police are attached either as bodyguards or for non-police duties. There is an urgent requirement to minimise such deployment and attachment so that more manpower is available for policing and law and order work,” Patton said at a meeting with senior police officers including state police director general of police Rupin Sharma at police headquarters (PHQ) in Kohima.

He said the withdrawal of police personnel should be done according to the recommendation of PHQ’s threat perception committee.

Patton, who holds the home portfolio, said the strength of the state police has increased to about 26,000 in 2023 from a mere 1,000 personnel in the 1980s but there was a need to improve the department’s efficiency. “This can be done by re-organisation and restructuring the police force so that better and optimal utilization of manpower and resources can be undertaken,” he said.

Patton also asked the state police chief to come up with steps to reduce the work-related stress of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawans who he said are overworked and exhausted due to continuous deployment.

Patton said it has been observed that many police personnel are under the influence of alcohol or drugs which hurts the department’s image as a whole. Therefore, he said that such kind of misconduct or indiscipline should be checked sternly and punitive action should be taken.