Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, who is also the in-charge of home, said that Nagaland police have stepped beyond the “conventional law & order” approach and took on a new role as “public health messengers and service providers,” despite immense stress and strain.
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By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
A police dog squad team from the department on Thursday paid homage at the Cenotaph on the occasion of the “Police Commemoration Day” during a programme held at New Police Reserve, Phesama, Kohima.
A programme organized in order to acknowledge uniformed personnel from the state who had sacrificed their lives for the security and safety of the country, the two trained dogs had stolen the attention from masses through different platforms including social media.
Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton, on behalf of the Nagaland government, while saluting and acknowledging the “valour and dedication” of all the “brave and courageous” uniformed police personnel which according to him, words cannot describe their bravery, was also of the opinion that putting service above themselves itself plays the most important role in safeguarding the basic rights of the citizens including the right to protection of life and personal liberty, which again according to him forms the basis of a “welfare state”.
“It is the strongest executive arm on which a democratic government relies in delivering services to its people. Stating that ever since the Covid-19 global pandemic, the Nagaland police along with the medical health fraternity have been at the forefront of the government’s efforts to control the spread of Covid-19.
Patton, who is also the in-charge of home, Nagaland, also said that Nagaland police have stepped beyond the “conventional law & order” approach and took on a new role as “public health messengers and service providers,” despite immense stress and strain.
Lauding Nagaland police for coming out of their “comfort zone” of traditional policing and also for performing “citizen-centric policing”, Patton further pointed out that the Government has always been acknowledging the services provided by the force and also has always stood by it and it has been the prerogative of “this government” to ensure that the privileges and welfare of policemen and women of the State are taken care of.
He further disclosed that Nagaland government has declared an ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakh each for every policeman and policewoman who lost their lives due to Covid-19 while on duty during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Police Commemoration Parade Day, which is observed on October 21 every year in the state by paying tributes to the “Martyrs” who had laid down their lives in the line of duties, is the day when in the year 1959, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) scripted history for their valour and sacrifice in the “inaccessible and inhospitable” terrains of “hot springs” in Ladakh.
Police Commemoration Day observed in Dimapur
With the rest of the country, the commercial hub of Nagaland, Dimapur, also observed the “Police Commemoration Day” on Thursday at the Commissioner of Police’s office.
Recalling the day how police patrolling party at Ladakh was ambushed by Chinese troops where around 10 police personnel were killed and some being captured, Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, Rothihu Tetseo, said that it was in the year 1960 during IGP conference where it was decided to observe October 21 as “Police Commemoration Day” to remember the sacrifice of not only those killed in Ladakh but also of those all other policemen killed.
During the last one year, 377 police personnel were victims to Covid-19 in the Country while executing their duties, 14 were also among them from Nagaland including four personnel from Dimapur.