Nagaland will host a two-day Regional Anti-Narcotics Task Force Conference on 13 and 14 November in Chumoukedima, bringing together police chiefs and senior officials from all Northeastern states as well as West Bengal. The event is being organised jointly by the Nagaland Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau of the central government.
Announcing the conference, DGP Rupin Sharma said senior officers from the Centre are expected to attend the deliberations. “The conference will deliberate on the challenges posed by narcotics trafficking in and from the Northeast, and formulate recommendations for effective implementation and cooperation among states,” he said.
Sharma noted that the meeting will be the first regional gathering of its kind under the national Nasha Mukt Bharat mission, with an agenda centred on supply reduction, enforcement, rehabilitation and de-addiction.
Turning to the ongoing police recruitment drive, the DGP said the last date for online applications, initially set for 7 November, had been extended by 15 days to address delays faced by candidates in securing documents, including indigenous certificates.
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Responding to public criticism of the Rs 300 application fee, Sharma clarified that registration on the portal is free and valid for future recruitments, but candidates must pay the prescribed fee to appear for the examination. He explained that while setting up the portal cost nearly Rs 40 lakh, there are additional expenses related to OTP services, SMS updates and the three-tier examination structure comprising the physical test, written test and interview.
“People should understand that we are not making profit. We are actually cutting costs wherever possible, even producing badges in-house to save funds,” he said. Sharma added that the online recruitment system had substantially reduced applicants’ hardship, noting that travel and accommodation for manual submissions would otherwise cost between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000 per person.
On forensic capacity, the DGP said the state’s forensic laboratory in Dimapur is “decently placed” to handle about 1,200 to 1,300 cases annually, though plans are being prepared to strengthen district-level response. Proposals will soon be sent to the state government to enable quicker forensic visits to crime scenes, particularly for offences carrying punishments of more than seven years under the new criminal laws.
ADGP (Law & Order) Sandeep Tamgadge said the government has approved the procurement of mobile forensic vans for all districts, and work orders have already been issued. Additional posts for scientific officers and assistants will also be created to reinforce forensic services.
DGP Sharma said the priority is not only expanding laboratory infrastructure but improving mobility and decentralising resources. “The way forward is not merely setting up new labs, but decentralising resources and improving mobility so that forensic support reaches scenes of crime faster,” he said.
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