In our last editorial we had commented that the best solution to tackle crime in Dimapur is to improve the functioning of our police force and not to give too much importance to community policing and given that we cannot rely on the latter given whatever limitation/s we are faced with in our local context. We would therefore like to focus today’s column on how best our police can be prepared to fight the menace of crime/s in our commercial hub. Here the first question is whether Dimapur police has a strategy at all. Criminals have become very smart in their operation. They use latest technology, they have a reliable intelligence network to aid and assist them and naturally they will use the loopholes in the existing system to get away easily. The focus of our police should therefore be on having a strategy in place and also working on plugging the loopholes which the criminals exploit to their advantage.
On September 17, 2011 during the security meeting chaired by the Home Minister, the lone MLA of the ruling NPF from Dimapur, Azheto Zhimomi made some very useful suggestions, which needs to be taken up on a priority by the State police. While no doubt the ruling MLA from Dimapur also endorsed the idea of community policing as put forward by the Home Minister, what the former advocated, about setting up more police check gates along the outer periphery of Dimapur, is a correct assessment and should be immediately implemented. He is right when he suggests that more check gates are required in some locations like Niuland, Thahekhu village towards Rangapahar Rail crossing and other porous entry points to Dimapur. Dimapur police should incorporate this as a vital component of the ‘strategy’. Policing must also take the help of whatever technology is available and therefore the suggestion for installation of CCTV cameras in vulnerable locations (to begin with), is a step in the right direction.
Coming to the question of having a strategy for Dimapur, one will have to study the modus operandi that criminals adopt while committing such crimes. It is becoming obvious that the geography of Dimapur is conducive for carrying out all kinds of criminal activities. Add to this, the wealth of our commercial hub is the irresistible target for the predators. And not only is Dimapur a thriving commercial hub, for criminals the easy entry and exit points makes Dimapur an easy meat for all sorts of people including our misguided Naga youths and cadres of armed groups. Here one is tempted to draw a comparison with Indian history where we have read about the likes of Mahmud of Ghazni who made in total seventeen raids into India targeting the fabulous treasures and wealth. As mentioned in the history lesson, the Ghazni forces were more mobile and superior riders compared to the slower elephant-mounted Indians. The invaders had a foothold on the Indian soil and controlled the gateway, the Khyber Pass, to the vast Indian subcontinent. Isn’t there a similarity with the modus operandi of our very own modern day Ghaznis and how we are unable to stop this assault and raid on Dimapur? People (whether locals or non-locals) commit all sort of crimes and disturb the peace and well being of Dimapur after which, they make quick their exit through the numerous loopholes and ‘safe’ passages! The Dimapur police should rework its strategy.
On September 17, 2011 during the security meeting chaired by the Home Minister, the lone MLA of the ruling NPF from Dimapur, Azheto Zhimomi made some very useful suggestions, which needs to be taken up on a priority by the State police. While no doubt the ruling MLA from Dimapur also endorsed the idea of community policing as put forward by the Home Minister, what the former advocated, about setting up more police check gates along the outer periphery of Dimapur, is a correct assessment and should be immediately implemented. He is right when he suggests that more check gates are required in some locations like Niuland, Thahekhu village towards Rangapahar Rail crossing and other porous entry points to Dimapur. Dimapur police should incorporate this as a vital component of the ‘strategy’. Policing must also take the help of whatever technology is available and therefore the suggestion for installation of CCTV cameras in vulnerable locations (to begin with), is a step in the right direction.
Coming to the question of having a strategy for Dimapur, one will have to study the modus operandi that criminals adopt while committing such crimes. It is becoming obvious that the geography of Dimapur is conducive for carrying out all kinds of criminal activities. Add to this, the wealth of our commercial hub is the irresistible target for the predators. And not only is Dimapur a thriving commercial hub, for criminals the easy entry and exit points makes Dimapur an easy meat for all sorts of people including our misguided Naga youths and cadres of armed groups. Here one is tempted to draw a comparison with Indian history where we have read about the likes of Mahmud of Ghazni who made in total seventeen raids into India targeting the fabulous treasures and wealth. As mentioned in the history lesson, the Ghazni forces were more mobile and superior riders compared to the slower elephant-mounted Indians. The invaders had a foothold on the Indian soil and controlled the gateway, the Khyber Pass, to the vast Indian subcontinent. Isn’t there a similarity with the modus operandi of our very own modern day Ghaznis and how we are unable to stop this assault and raid on Dimapur? People (whether locals or non-locals) commit all sort of crimes and disturb the peace and well being of Dimapur after which, they make quick their exit through the numerous loopholes and ‘safe’ passages! The Dimapur police should rework its strategy.
