Nagaland Regional conference of ANTF at Chümoukedima

In a significant move to combat the escalating drug menace in the Northeast, Nagaland Police, in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Government of India, will host the first-ever Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTF) on November 13 and 14 at the Nagaland Police Complex, Chümoukedima.
Announcing the initiative at a press briefing here, DGP Nagaland Rupin Sharma, said the conference marks a national first, bringing together ANTF leaders from all Northeastern states, including Sikkim and West Bengal. The event aims to foster regional cooperation in tackling drug trafficking and related challenges.
Senior officials from the Centre, including Director of NCB, Special DG of CRPF, and IGP-rank officers from the region, are expected to attend. Although Union Home Secretary was initially slated to participate, Sharma noted that his presence may be affected by recent developments following the Red Fort blast incident in Delhi.
The conference will serve as a platform to exchange best practices, address operational hurdles, and develop actionable strategies to strengthen anti-narcotics efforts. Topics will include law enforcement, supply chain disruption, rehabilitation, and de-addiction, aligning with the national “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India) campaign.
Recruitment: Sharma also announced a 15-day extension for the ongoing police recruitment process.
Initially set to close on November 7, the online application portal—launched on October 6—will now remain open due to administrative delays and difficulties faced by candidates in obtaining documents like indigenous inhabitant certificates.
He clarified that the recruitment process involves two components: registration and fee payment.
While registration is free and valid for future drives, candidates must pay Rs. 300 to complete their application and be eligible for the exam. “Without payment, candidates cannot appear for the test,” Sharma emphasized.
Responding to criticism over the fee, Sharma explained that recruitment is a costly exercise. The online portal alone cost Rs. 40 lakh to develop, and services like OTP generation and SMS alerts incur ongoing expenses. He noted that the fee structure mirrors those of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB).
The recruitment process includes a physical test, written exam, and interview, making it resource-intensive. “Conducting physical tests for over 32,000 candidates requires substantial logistics,” Sharma said. He added that the online system has eased the burden on applicants, especially those from remote areas who previously spent Rs. 5,000–Rs. 6,000 traveling to Kohima to submit forms.
To address concerns about fund utilization, Sharma highlighted cost-saving measures, such as producing chest badges in-house for Rs. 7–Rs. 8, compared to market rates of Rs. 70–Rs. .
The interview phase will involve around 3,500 candidates, with each session lasting 10 minutes over a span of 10 to 15 days. Sharma urged the public to offer constructive feedback and consider the scale and complexity of the recruitment process.
Forensic upgrade
Addressing calls for a fully functional forensic laboratory, Sharma said Nagaland’s current facilities are “decently placed” to manage existing workloads. However, new criminal laws requiring forensic visits to crime scenes involving serious offences have increased demand for enhanced capabilities.
Nagaland’s policing have traditionally focused on armed units over investigative teams, but Sharma noted a growing emphasis on scientific investigation. Previously, forensic samples were sent to labs in Guwahati or Imphal, but recent cases like the Pimla murder have underscored the need for faster, localized forensic responses.
Currently, the state’s forensic unit operates from Dimapur. Sharma acknowledged that incidents in remote areas like Noklak face delays due to travel time. To improve response times, the police department plans to propose district-level deployment of forensic personnel. “This is a work in progress,” he said.
Nagaland handles approximately 1,200–1,300 investigation cases annually, with 600–700 requiring forensic involvement. Sharma assured that while the current setup is not ideal, it remains functional and will be upgraded as needed.
Additional DGP (Law & Order) Sandeep M. Tamgadge, added that even larger states do not maintain forensic labs in every district. Instead, facilities are often established at the range level. He revealed that the state government has approved mobile forensic vans for all districts, with procurement already completed.