More than 2,000 candidates appeared for the Nagaland Police constable recruitment rally held at Chümoukedima for Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland districts.
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DIMAPUR — The physical recruitment rally for Nagaland Police constable posts for Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts concluded on Tuesday at the Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre (NAPTC) in Chümoukedima after seven days of testing, with officials and civil society representatives highlighting the process as transparent and free of irregularities.
On the final day, 204 male candidates belonging to nine tribes appeared for the physical tests at the centre.
Speaking to the media, Commissioner of Police Dimapur, Aotula T Imchen, said a total of 3,377 candidates had applied for the recruitment. Of these, 2,020 candidates appeared over the past six days, while 1,357 did not turn up. The recruitment was being held against 144 vacant constable posts.
Imchen said the entire process was carried out in the presence of media persons, civil society organisations, district administration representatives and members of the District Level Selection Committee, under the supervision of the Departmental Recruitment Board. This, she said, was to ensure transparency at every stage of the recruitment.
Commenting on the number of candidates who failed to qualify in the physical tests, Imchen said that while many candidates gave their best, a significant number struggled in the running event. She advised aspirants aiming to join the police or other uniformed services such as the Army, CRPF and Assam Rifles to focus seriously on physical fitness, stressing that consistent training for at least two to three months was necessary to meet the required standards.
She also pointed out that the recruitment advertisement had been issued in November, giving candidates nearly two months to prepare. Those who cleared the physical tests, she said, had demonstrated commitment and adequate physical preparation.
Encouraging candidates who did not qualify, Imchen urged them not to lose heart but to prepare better for future recruitment rallies by maintaining a proper diet, engaging in regular physical exercise and practising consistently. She added that the centres for the written examination for candidates who qualified the Physical Efficiency Test would be announced in the coming days, with results to be declared through the Transparent Recruitment Process.
Imchen said the rally was conducted smoothly due to coordination and teamwork among all agencies involved, and expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to ensuring a fair recruitment process.
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Among the representatives of student bodies and civil society organisations who observed the weeklong rally, vice president of the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union, R Michael Yanthan, said this was among the first instances in Nagaland where a recruitment rally was conducted in such a manner, not limited only to a single district. As an official witness, he described the process as a step towards greater transparency, aimed at keeping corruption at bay.
Yanthan said the initiative was new for many stakeholders and thanked the state government for involving civil society organisations in the recruitment process. Their inclusion, he said, reflected the government’s intent to ensure transparency.
Referring to the large number of candidates who failed to qualify, Yanthan said the experience had been an eye-opener. While many could not make the cut, he urged them not to feel morally defeated, describing the attempt as a starting point. Recalling remarks by the Deputy Chief Minister, he said more vacant posts were available and encouraged aspirants to try again in future recruitment drives with better mental preparation, in addition to physical fitness.
Addressing concerns and rumours about “backdoor appointments” and bribery, particularly in the written examination, Yanthan said he had personally observed the rally for six days and found no anomalies. He said CCTV cameras were installed across the venue and asserted that the process was fair. He urged people to set aside doubts and have faith in the system, adding that selections would be made purely on merit and qualifications.
NCD vice president M Sapong Chang said this was the first time such a recruitment process had been witnessed in Nagaland. He said civil society organisations had observed the process from start to finish and emphasised that qualification depended entirely on individual performance. Describing the initiative as commendable, he said similar practices, if adopted by other departments, would benefit the state in the long run.
A representative of the Western Sumi Hoho, Bokato Zhimomi, said the recruitment drive had gone well and noted effective coordination among commissioners of Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima. He welcomed the inclusion of civil society organisations as observers and suggested that local bodies and village councils consider organising medical and physical fitness camps ahead of future recruitment drives to help candidates prepare better.
Vice president of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Dimapur, B Peniang, said they were satisfied with the manner in which the recruitment was conducted. He said CCTV surveillance was comprehensive and lauded the District Level Selection Committee for ensuring accountability. He added that continued open recruitment drives would lead to long-term improvement within the police department and provide sustained employment opportunities for Naga youth.
Meanwhile, a DIPR update informed that 187 candidates in Shamator qualified for the written exam. A total of 577 candidates took part in the simultaneous rallies held across the state.
DIG IR South Lakha Koza, thanked the Yimkhiung Tribal Council and the ranks and files of DEF Shamator, led by Superintendent of Police Shamator Shinde Suresh K, for their work, and wished all successful candidates the best for the upcoming interview, it added.