Nagaland DGP calls for civic accountability, coordinated action against drug menace

DIMAPUR — Director General of Police (DGP) Nagaland, Rupin Sharma, has emphasised the urgent need for greater civic responsibility and coordinated community action to address Nagaland’s administrative challenges and its growing drug crisis.

Speaking at the 54th installation ceremony of the Rotary Club of Dimapur on Sunday at Rotary Centre, Midland, Sharma noted that the state continues to struggle with weak internal revenue generation, which hampers its ability to fulfil basic civic needs. He stressed that citizens, too, must take equal responsibility in addressing community problems alongside the government.

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While recognising the limitations of the state machinery, he noted that Nagaland offers a degree of flexibility and opportunity—particularly in governance and public service—that should be harnessed for the common good. He cited the past installation of traffic lights in Dimapur as an example of what collective effort and innovative local fund management could achieve.

On the pressing issue of drug abuse, Sharma described it as the “most serious social problem” confronting Nagaland. Citing estimates, he said around 5% of the state’s population—nearly one lakh people—are drug users.

The top cop said that existing rehabilitation and counselling infrastructure is vastly inadequate and that many civil society interventions lack legal grounding or long-term sustainability.

Calling for a more scientific approach to addiction recovery, he urged the Rotary Club and other organisations to move beyond religious or moral counselling and invest in trained psychological professionals. Sometimes, those struggling with addiction may open up more easily to counsellors from outside the community due to social dynamics, he observed.

He also cautioned that driving drug sellers out of villages without proper follow-up only shifts the problem elsewhere. Instead, he advocated for legally structured, cooperative efforts between NGOs, village leaders, and law enforcement.

On Rotary’s broader role, Sharma encouraged the club to explore its mandate of peace and conflict management and resolution, suggesting it organise inter-village dialogue forums to address local disputes. He assured that the police department would provide logistical support for such community-based initiatives.

The ceremony also marked the official installation of Rtn. Pankaj Jain as President of Rotary Club Dimapur for the 2025–2026 term. Outgoing President Manoj Bhattacharjee handed over responsibilities in the presence of members and dignitaries.

The newly constituted team includes Vivek Jain as Secretary, Sanjay Kashliwal as Treasurer, Rakesh Kochar as First Vice President, Pradeep Jain as Second Vice President, and Pradeep Goyel as President-Elect, among others.