Govt preparing for dialogue with UPF, KNO : Dy CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 19 2015: The 124th raising day of Manipur Police was celebrated today at 1st MR parade ground where Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is also in charge of Home Department reciprocated to salutes given by march past contingents.

Speaking on the occasion, Gaikhangam hailed the roles and contributions made by Manipur Police in tackling insurgency and maintaining law and order.

He announced that the Government is preparing to hold dialogue with UPF and KNO.

There around 40 insurgent groups in Manipur and the issue of insurgency should be resolved politically.

Gaikhangam giving away a commendation certificate to a cop

In addition to their normal duties such as detection of crimes and maintenance of law and order, police have also been entrusted the tricky job of paving way for holding dialogue with insurgents.

As a result of the sustained counter insurgency operations, many insurgent groups have returned to normal life.

Altogether 25 insurgent groups affiliated to the umbrella bodies of KNO and UPF are under tripartite SoO pact with the Central Government and the State Government.

Plans are also afoot to initiate dialogue with KNO and UPF.

The State Government also signed an MoU with nine other insurgent groups in 2008.Police have also been tackling all kinds of anti-social activities including drug trafficking, bandhs, blockades etc.

At the same time, police personnel are being trained not to violate human rights at the time of discharging their duties.

While those police personnel who committed wrongs are taken to task promptly, those who performed their duties with exceptional dedication are rewarded, Gaikhangam stated.

Later, the Deputy Chief Minister presented DGP Commendation Discs and Letters to 33 officers and personnel of Manipur police.

Altogether 546 officers and personnel were recommended for the DGP Commendation Discs and Letters but only 33 were awarded today.

Today's parade was commanded by IPS PG Shingshit.

DGP Shahid Ahmad said that the then Political Agent Crawford raised Manipur Police (then called State Military Police) with 463 personnel on October 18, 1892 .

The strength of Manipur Police has reached 33,700 now and it one of the best police forces in the country.

Not long after the independence, Manipur Police came face to face with the tricky issue of insurgency.

Under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) was introduced in Manipur last year.

With the new system in place, criminal records maintained in different police stations can be assessed at any police station.

Counter Insurgency and Anti-terrorism School opened at Jiribam would be commissioned soon.

Selected personnel of Manipur Police would be given extra training for induction as special force (comnmando), the DGP stated.

He went on to declare that a special measure has been taken up to control extortion and abduction and bomb blasts which take place every now and then in and around Imphal.

Under the new arrangement, 2500 police personnel would be deployed at 105 different places.

Already 100 CCTV cameras have been installed at Khwairamband and plans are afoot to install CCTV cameras in other important market places including Singjamei.

In the meantime, 150 police vehicles would be fitted with vehicle tracking GPS devices, Shahid Ahmad said.

Rajya Sabha MP Md Abdul Salam, Deputy Speaker MK Preshow Shimray, Ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary O Nabakishore, high ranking civil and police officials were also present at the raising day celebration.