Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur June 25 (EMN): A dilemma seems to be creeping up in the cadre management system of the two branches of the Nagaland state police viz. the armed branch (AB) and the unarmed branch (UB) from the rank of constables to inspectors, according to a source from inside the AB Club of the department.
The source explained that the police headquarters and the state’s government had ‘failed in bringing an acceptable solution’ to the representations submitted by some personnel of the unarmed branch on their demand for 50:50 ratio of promotion to deputy police superintendent, asst. commandant from the unarmed branch, and inspectors from the armed branch. According to the source, this is despite the government having a vast knowledge of the ground realities of all the government’s standing orders.’
The source said that the mode of recruitment to the post of sub-inspector of AB/UB cadres for instance, was done by choice of the applicants and ‘not by fate or force.’
“The personnel of these two cadres, appointed from the rank of sub inspectors attend same training academy/college to complete basic course where posting of merits to either cadre does not arise. And, stagnation in both the cadres is very prevalent if case study is conducted taking year-wise batch into consideration,” he stated.
The source mentioned that out of more than 26,000 personnel in the police department, the armed branch comprised a remarkably significant total of nearly 19,000 personnel, in 15 battalions and others such as 11 DEFs; NAPTC, PTS, and PHQ etc.
The source divulged that a latest representation by an unarmed branch inspector demanding compensation of 15 posts of deputy superintendents to UBIs and to implement 50: 50 basis for UBIs and ABIs to higher level of promotion, appears to be creating a silent conflict within the force. The source said that if it is implemented and granted by the authority, it would wreck the future and careers of innumerable personnel of the armed branch. This would create chaos and unrest in the department, the source said.
Further, the source said that the armed branch had been ‘sincerely and obediently’ performing their duties all over the country without any hesitation, apart from home state deployments. They had been facing hardship and even loss of life in the line of duty, and several times earned laurels for the department in particular and the state, the source said.
However, he said that the AB Club had 'total confidence' in their senior officers / Home department and the state government that the latter would not be hasty in taking decisions to ‘unwisely implement any rule which favours only one cadre.’
