The addition of 561 new vehicles to the state police fleet, including 12 Mobile Forensic Vans, for modernisation of Nagaland Police, is a welcome development.
Blame often falls on the police when investigations into crimes take longer than expected and the list of unsolved cases continues to grow. While such criticism is understandable, particularly amid allegations of corruption against law enforcement agencies, many Indian states, including Nagaland, remain ill-equipped to investigate and solve complex crimes. Policing can be crippled by several factors—poor infrastructure, inadequate manpower, outdated equipment, an overburdened investigative machinery, weak communication systems, technological constraints, and more. And if there is one state that is in dire need of upgrading its police force, it is Nagaland. The state’s ageing police fleet is reportedly affecting not only routine policing but also emergency response, crime prevention, investigations, and disaster management. Against this backdrop, the recent addition of 561 new vehicles to the police fleet, including 12 Mobile Forensic Vans, procured under the Scheme of Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of State Police, is a welcome development. The upgrade comes at a time when the police department needs to strengthen its operational capabilities to tackle the rising crime rate in the state, which has contributed to a growing sense of fear and insecurity among the public. It will help strengthen law and order while also addressing the infrastructure and technological gaps that have long posed challenges to the investigation of complex criminal cases.
Modernising the police force is not a luxury but a basic necessity, particularly at a time when criminal networks are increasingly exploiting technology. A well-equipped and technologically capable police force is essential for effective crime investigation and for building public confidence in the law enforcement system. The recent upgrade, including the procurement of 12 dedicated mobile forensic vans, is expected to significantly enhance mobility and crime investigation by enabling the on-the-spot collection of evidence and analysis. These mobile units are equipped to conduct preliminary examinations of electronic devices, develop fingerprints, collect biological samples, and carry out tests related to narcotics and explosives. The move is also in line with the requirements of the new criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—which place greater emphasis on forensic procedures, electronic evidence and time-bound investigations. Additionally, Nagaland has a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Dimapur that undertakes examinations such as polygraph tests, fingerprint analysis, photography and narcotics-related testing. However, the facility is not equipped to conduct specialised examinations such as toxicology, DNA analysis and advanced ballistics. This gap could perhaps be bridged through the creation of a separate Directorate of Forensic Sciences, which has already been approved by the state Cabinet to strengthen scientific investigation. However, modernising the police force will have limited impact on the absence of adequately trained personnel, including forensic experts, IT professionals and other specialists. Equally important is ensuring that the newly procured vehicles and equipment are used strictly for official purposes rather than personal use, a practice not uncommon in the state.