Dimapur: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio flagged off 549 new police vehicles and 12 mobile forensic vans at the Chumoukedima police complex on Monday in a major step towards strengthening policing, mobility and scientific investigation in the state.Addressing the flagging-off programme, Rio asked police personnel to utilise the vehicles responsibly and transparently, deploy them strictly based on operational requirements, prioritise district executive forces and remote areas, ensure regular maintenance and timely servicing, and replace condemned vehicles promptly to maintain an efficient fleet.He said the vehicles were procured under the Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police Scheme for the financial year 2025-26.He noted that the initiative was the first major outcome of a broader police modernisation programme under which Nagaland has secured nearly Rs 150 crore for upgrading policing infrastructure, including mobility, CCTV surveillance, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems and smart police suite.Rio said the 549 vehicles, procured at an approximate cost of Rs 81.65 crore, would replace 35% to 40% of the ageing police fleet, significantly enhancing the operational readiness of the force.He stressed that mobility is crucial for effective policing in Nagaland’s difficult terrain, where timely response to emergencies, crime prevention, investigation and disaster response depend on reliable transportation.Rio observed that almost half of the existing police fleet became old, unserviceable or crossed the permissible service life, affecting policing across districts, police stations, IRB battalions, highway patrols and investigation units.Highlighting emerging security challenges, Rio said organised extortion, drug trafficking, cybercrime, financial fraud, human trafficking and crimes against women and children require specialised investigation and greater technological capability.He also emphasised the importance of implementing the new criminal laws through scientific investigation and added that 12 mobile forensic vans have already been distributed to district executive forces, with more to be provided in the coming years.
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