EMN
Dimapur, September 8
After being battered left, right, and center for more than a decade by all sorts of crimes– and finding no solace or deterrent to protect them, the business community of Dimapur can at least enjoy nice-sounding assurances and speeches at least.
One of the underground groups’ softest and favorite targets in Nagaland, the business community of Dimapur, has been enduring all sorts of crimes and atrocities over the decades and up to date, from threats to endless extortion, to kidnappings and killings.
Perhaps for the first time on this scale, officials of the Dimapur police met with leaders of the community on September 8. However, the police did not bring instruments of law or strong-armed justice to fish the community out of their misery. A press release from the police establishment on Tuesday showed that the “guardians of the law” met the groups to “assess the overall law and order situation, particularly in context to the business environment in the state and the problems faced by the business communities.”
On September 8, the additional Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma, and the Commissioner of Police and other police officers met the business community of Dimapur in the city. The business community was represented by various organizations such as the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Business Association of Nagaland, East Dimapur Business Association, Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association, etc held at the Police Commissioner’s Office.
According to the press release, the “agenda of the interactive meeting” was–interestingly–to “assess the overall law and order situation, particularly in context to the business environment in the state and the problems faced by the business communities,” according to the police. Another important agenda discussed was the issue of extending extensive CCTV surveillance coverage across Dimapur.
“The Addl. Director General of Police (L&0) asserted that Security is the most important criteria for business and economy to flourish and it is high time for the Police along with the other stakeholders to work together towards securing this end by taking advantage of the facilities of modern technology,” the police’s statement said. “Making our lives and our environment secure is not only the job of the police but a collective effort of the society as well.”
The press release quoted him as having “emphasized the need to secure the city with a well integrated CCTV network for which he proposed a project based on the concept of police-public partnership.”
The leaders of the business community were told by the Dimapur police that the authorities “have already placed over 50 CCTV cameras across 7 locations within the city but the same are stand alone units, only on trial basis and their effectiveness and utility are being reviewed to assess the utility in assisting the Police and providing a secure environment in the city.”
The police have also issued advisories-directions to all financial institutions falling under Dimapur District for CCTV surveillance coverage of not only the interior spaces “but also the exterior covering road fronts and immediate spaces.” The police departments plans to install more CCTV cameras in the days to come, the press release stated. “The ultimate aim is to have an integrated CCTV surveillance network for the city,” it stated.
“While necessary measures and developments are being implemented, the Business communities were requested to assist in the project by filling up the gaps in the form of installing CCTV in their establishments with surveillance coverage of the exterior fronts. To make the system more integrated, a collective approach by the business establishments confined together be explored.”
According to the police, the “members of the business communities present in the meeting expressed appreciation on the project and assured all cooperation.” Hokivi Chishi, president of the Dimapur District Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that “with necessary guidance and directions from the police department, the Hazi Park Market and New Market were ready to install CCTV set up.”
Offering more updates, the press release stated: “Others present in the meeting while supporting the project, emphasized on the need to also look in related issues such as power source, maintenance, quality of assets to be installed and the role of the Police to integrate such installations. The members also emphasized the need to involve schools and colleges in the project and cited the example of SD Jain College which provides interior and exterior coverage of its premises.”
The members and officials present in the meeting agreed that the project must be carried forward. A committee comprising the business groups and the police establishment is being set up for coordination, the statement said.
“After the identification of locations, market areas, shopping complexes, stretches of roads and assessment of assets and logistics required, the committee shall work out the mode of the implementation of the project and related issues. All financial components in respect to the project partnered with the Business communities shall be made transparent and preferable managed by the latter.”
The meeting is also said to have deliberated on “various other issues related to traffic, parking spaces, regulations, etc, it was agreed by all that such meetings at regular intervals shall be very much helpful as a platform to interact between the stakeholders in securing a better and safe environment for all.”
