Policing in Dimapur district confronted with an unnatural front due to indeterminate & vague CFGRs
Close on the heels of the September 16 State-wide closure of shops and businesses in protest against multiple taxation by NPGs and government agencies, the Dimapur police has set up a ‘District Action Plan’ to fight against rampant extortion/illegal taxation, kidnapping and other illegal and anti-social activities.
Informing this at a press briefing here on Saturday, Commissioner of Police (CP) Dimapur, Rothihu Tetseo said that extortion and illegal taxation continued to be a challenge for Dimapur police, given the fact that it accounts 13% of the total number of criminal cases registered since January 1, 2020.
CP attributed this to unauthorized presence of various factions of the Naga political groups, due to the prevalent cease-fire and peace talks between Centre and the NPGs, governed by the cease-fire ground rules (CFGR).
CP further pointed out that policing in the district is confronted with an unnatural front particularly due to the indeterminate, superfluous and vague CFGRs.
However, Tetseo said that the ‘District Action Plan’ was formulated with realistic objectives of achieving a substantial reduction in extortion/illegal taxation cases, with optimum utilization of limited resources at hand.
In order to enforce DAP at micro levels (with officers/NGOs), CP said that Dimapur district has been divided into 39 micro sectors– each micro sector consisting of an average of seven colonies/villages under one NGO.
He said that DAP is currently being implemented for– preventive action, confidence building measures/deterrent action, deployment of forces for area domination, escorting of transport trucks operation and assault team, striking reserve force, first respondent team etc.
In addition, he said additional forces (IRB and STF) have been deployed at check gates and business concentrated areas.
While informing that the law and order situation in Dimapur was by and large peaceful, Tetseo pointed out that out of 941 crime cases registered in the State as on August 31, 2021, a total of 529 cases alone were registered in Dimapur (56.21%).
He also highlighted the details of cases registered under various heads from June 1 to September 23 this year– Crimes under IPC: 219 cases registered and 158 persons arrested that includes 64 arrests made in connection with extortion cases and 33 arrested in connection with kidnapping/abduction. Under special and local law: 54 cases were registered and 62 persons arrested, under NLTPA/DC act &NDPS Act: 26 cases were registered and 36 persons arrested. There were also 19856 traffic offences/violations registered this year alone (till September 20, 2021).
All extortion cases and arrests made by police between June till September this year were registered suo moto (no formal complaint lodged by the aggrieved party against the extortionist).
He urged the public to report such matters to the police so that prompt action is taken. “Our citizens should also come forward to help us in serving them better,” CP stated.
Night enforcement: CP also informed that “intensive night enforcement” has been put in place at strategic locations for over a week in view of too many two-wheeler accidents of late. Though some sections were unhappy about it, CP said that after its implementation, there have been no major accidents being reported.
For any public assistance, and immediate response round the clock, public can call helpline number 7085055050/100, DCP (Crime): 7085055006, DCP Zone-II: 7085055003 and DCP Zone-I: 7085055002. Police also assured to protect the identity of callers for any information regarding extortion.