Imphal, May 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday said that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved Rs 196.61 crore for the modernisation of the state police force to effectively deal with the prevailing situation in the state.
After flagging off 477 newly acquired vehicles for Manipur Police at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal, the Chief Minister said that the government remains committed to strengthening the police department and modernising policing infrastructure across the state.
The vehicles were provided under the "Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police" scheme.
Khemchand Singh said that without strengthening the police force, no state or country could maintain peace and security.
Referring to the ethnic violence that began on May 3, 2023, he said that Manipur Police personnel had discharged major responsibilities with dedication and courage, often risking their lives while working to prevent conflict and restore peace in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the flagging off of such a large number of vehicles marked another important milestone in the history of Manipur Police. He stated that the vehicles would significantly improve police infrastructure and logistics, particularly in the hill districts, and further strengthen emergency response capabilities across the state.
Of the total 477 vehicles flagged off on Monday, 100 were Hero motorcycles, 39 Bolero B6 vehicles, 50 Bolero Neo vehicles, 74 Tata Yodha vehicles, 10 mine-protected vehicles, 20 Tata trucks, 30 Tata 407 vehicles, 20 Mahindra buses, 60 bulletproof Rakshak vehicles, 19 water tankers, 50 Bolero Camper vehicles, and five HMR vehicles.
The Chief Minister also said that the present government had increased the ration money of police personnel, which had remained unchanged for a long period, besides enhancing uniform allowances. He lauded Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Singh and his team for taking initiatives towards police modernisation.
Khemchand Singh also expressed gratitude to the Army, Assam Rifles, the CRPF, the BSF, the ITBP, the SSB and other security agencies for their continued support in maintaining law and order in the state.
Appealing to the public to discourage violence and provocative activities during agitations and rallies, the Chief Minister urged all sections of society to support peace and harmony in Manipur.
In his remarks on the occasion, Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh said that the programme reflected the far-sighted vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah towards strengthening police and security forces across the country.
He said that the newly acquired vehicles would significantly improve the mobility, efficiency and response capability of Manipur Police during emergencies and other critical situations.
The Home Minister stressed the importance of maintaining strong public-police relations and urged police personnel to remain public-friendly. He added that strengthening intelligence gathering and cooperation from the public would help authorities anticipate and prevent incidents in advance.
DGP Rajiv Singh, in his address, highlighted the importance of police modernisation and strengthening infrastructure, especially in the hill districts. He said that the newly inducted vehicles would improve operational efficiency and mobility of the police force across the state. The state police chief further informed that 54 per cent of the vehicles would be allocated to the hill districts, while 46 per cent would be deployed in the valley districts.
Highlighting the achievements of Manipur Police, the DGP said that with the establishment of the Anti-Extortion Cell, around 1,000 persons had been arrested so far. He also informed that more than 700 persons had been arrested and around 600 cases registered under the anti-drug campaign launched by the state government.
DGP Singh further stated that Manipur Police had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Security Guard (NSG) for specialised training programmes for state police personnel. Emphasising the importance of public cooperation and intelligence gathering, he said that strengthening intelligence networks and enhancing coordination with the public would further improve policing and emergency response mechanisms in the state.
The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, senior police officers, officers of the Army, CRPF and various security agencies, among others.
Source: IANS
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