IMPHAL Oct 19: “Militants organisations who are ready for peace talks are most welcome, gun never brings solution and never willâ€, said Governor Gurbachan Jagat while addressing 118 anniversary of Manipur police raising day at 1st Manipur Rifles ground this morning.
The Manipur Governor further said information is key to success and the keys are in the hand of state police force and hence state police have a key role to play in controlling conflict situation.
He further stated that Manipur police has completed 118 years of its glorious existence since it was first raised as the state Military Police in 1892.
He said, throughout its existence, the State Police has served the people of Manipur with devotion, courage, conviction and professionalism.
In spite of enormous challenges over the years on many fronts of internal security, particularly insurgency, the Manipur Police has been able to cope with it despite constraints. It has also successfully moved with the time, the Governor asserted.
State police is carrying on the worthy tradition and good work that have been the hallmark of the Manipur police. We all know that the state has been passing through a difficult time during the last three decades or so. Today’s militants are equipped with sophisticated weapon and technological tools and have acquired expertise and new modus operandi. It is therefore, no mean achievement for the state police to have successfully combated the menace of militant’s activities with the help of other security forces, he noted.
The Governor further mentioned that although the violence has been considerably controlled yet the incident of kidnapping, abductions, extortions, hurling of hand grenades etc, have gone up. The level of extortions has gone up considerably and the UGs do not even spare the common public or the government agencies from these activities. As a result, the money which should utilized for development works is being diverted by the UGs and thus the people suffer because of lack of development.
Similarly, all this activities generates an environment of fear and insecurity amongst the people. And so we have to focus on these nefarious activities and ensure that the underground and overground structure responsible for these extortion’s etc. is exposed and broken down. It is our duty to let the people know as to how this money is being forcibly collected and how it goes to fund the luxurious life of UGs living abroad and how it is being used in investment in property and other things. The so-called protectors of the people have now turned against the people and other and are eating away the resources meant for the people. The Goveror also expressed hope that State Police would be able to tackle this menace with the help of other security agencies.
Manipur Police has been functioning under tremendous resource constraints but with the help of the Government of India it has embraked upon a massive expansion and modernization programme. Over 10,000officers and other ranks have been recruited recently to meet this shortfalls in manpower with funds released under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) and Modernization of State Police Force.
While stating that significant development of infrastructure have taken place, Governor added that the Manipur Police Trainning School has been upgraded to a Training College. A good number of police station building, fencing, barrack and trainning infrastructure have also been constructed. Thirty four new police station, including 9 (nine) women police station one especially for dealing with economic offence have been sanctioned. Sophisticated weapon, scientific and lates technological equipment like vehicle-mounted jammer, state-of-the-art bomb detection squard and disposal gadgets have been procured.
The state police have also procured 40 mm multi-grenade launchers, more vehicle-mounted jammers, cell phone jammers, GPS location finding equipment etc. which are in the offing. To sanitize the Loktake lake and provide a secure environment, the government is procuring three hovercrafts by the year end and this will equip the Manipur Police to meet the challenges. Scientific training, proper deployment, right equipment and especially able manpower will help surmount most of the challenges he added.
The Governor also said the state police has set up a Subsidiary Multi Agency Centre (SMAC) to bolster its intelligence gathering and sharing mechanism, and further Crime and Criminals Tracking and networking Systems (CCTNS) has been taken up as a pilot project by the state police under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affair for improving the overall efficiency of the police through the application of information Technology with provisions for citizen-friendly services and interface.
He further said that, with these development, the state police would be more confident and better equipped to respond to call of duty. And also added that due to long feudal tradditions in our country, government employees particularly police have been feared and hated and during over 60 years of independence we are yet to remove this stigma. It is the responsibility of all of us especially those in the police force to ensure that we have a respected rather than a feared force. And also added that the people coming to police station should be treated with respect, their cases registered without delay and investigated properly and culprits brought to book.
About the state traffic police he further disclose that the traffic police need to enforce regulation strictly but politely. The citizen interact with the police at the level of police station and the traffic constable and for them this is the face of the police as well the face of the government and it is this face that we need to improved through out courteous behavior and professional work. And also added that the force need to be oriented to more citizen friendly one and I am confident that the present leadership will provide the road map towards it.
DGP Manipur Y Joykumar who also attended the celebration function stated that Manipur Police so called State Military Police was established in the year 1892.
While narrating the history of Manipur Police, Joykumar further said that during the time the state police had faced the different problem like the issue of MNF in Churachandpur, Sadar hill, Chandel, communal clash between Naga and Kuki, Meitei-Pangal etc.
He also added that since the SPF government came to power, the state police department under the guidance of home minister O Ibobi who is also the chief minister, state police department significant development.
On the occassion, Governor Gurbhachand Jagat distributed the DGP Commendation awards to 39 police officers of the state police. Amongst the police officer who recieved the award included L Ibotombi, additional SP law and order Imphal east police, M Rajen additional SP operation Imphal east, N Herojit additional SP Law and Order, Imphal west, Kamei Angam, IPS CDO Imphal East, L. Birbabu SDPO Imphal East, N Modhunimai SDPO Imphal West, K. Meghachandra, SDPO Lamlai, P Manjit asst CO IRB at present attested to PHQ. S Ibomcha, DSP Imphal West, RK Tejbir OC City Police and other inspector, sub inspector, Jamandar, sub Inspector, ASI, Havildar and constables.
A march pass parate was also held which was participated by 18 contingents of the Manipur Police personnel including the women police and traffic police.
Later after the main function, the dignitaries attend during the celebration inspected the blood donation camp held at 1st MR officer’s club.
