Nagaland Police will introduce mobile forensic vans across districts and host a regional Anti-Narcotics Task Force conference in Chümoukedima this week.
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State to host regional drug control talk this week
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KOHIMA — The state government has approved the procurement of mobile forensic vans for all districts, with work orders already issued and the process underway, Additional Director General of Police Sandeep M Tamgadge said on Tuesday.
He said Nagaland’s central forensic lab in Dimapur, along with the upcoming district vans, should meet immediate forensic requirements once deployed. He added that even larger states do not have district-level forensic laboratories, and the vans would help meet demands created by the compulsory crime scene visitation mandated under the new criminal laws.
With these mandates in place, the government is creating additional posts for scientific officers and scientific assistants. “Once these developments are fully implemented, the requirement of forensics would be taken care of in the state,” Tamgadge said at a press conference in Kohima.
Director General of Police Rupin Sharma said Nagaland Police had previously prioritised the armed police component over district executive force and investigation units. “Forensic work comes in when there is a focus on investigation-related work, and that is just coming in,” he said.
He acknowledged that the single forensic team in Dimapur creates logistical challenges, especially for offences requiring mandatory forensic visits under the new criminal laws. The department will send proposals to the government to ensure timely crime scene visits, including placing personnel in districts to reduce travel time.
He added that around 40–50% of cases in the state do not require mandatory forensic visits and that the existing lab in Dimapur keeps the police “decently placed” to handle current workload.
On recruitment fees
Sharma also said the last date for submitting applications for the ongoing Nagaland Police recruitment process has been extended by 15 days due to administrative reasons and difficulties faced by some candidates in obtaining documents.
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He clarified that registration on the recruitment portal is free and valid for all future recruitments, but candidates must pay the INR 300 examination fee to be eligible for the exam. He said it was “slightly disturbing” that public discussion was focused solely on the fee, noting that creating the online portal cost nearly INR 40 lakh and that OTPs and SMS updates add to expenses.
He said no separate funds have been sanctioned by the state government for the recruitment process, adding that the department may run short of funds. “Those who have been critical of us without knowledge of how the process goes should probably consider twice before writing all these things,” he said.
The DGP stated that online submission has eased the burden on candidates who would otherwise have had to travel long distances and spend significantly more. He reiterated that the INR 300 collected would be used judiciously and requested those criticising the fee to seek clarity before making assumptions.
Regional ANTF conference
Earlier in the press conference, Sharma announced that Nagaland Police, in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), government of India, will host a two-day conference of the Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) of all North-East states, West Bengal and Sikkim on November 13 and November 14 at Chümoukedima.
He said the conference will bring together the Director of the NCB, the Special DGP of CRPF and IG-rank officers from the North-East. The meeting will deliberate on narcotics-related challenges in the region and develop recommendations for both the North-East and the government of India.
Sharma expressed hope that the conference would strengthen collective efforts to curb drug trafficking.