State Law and order improved: Gaikhangam

File

IMPHAL, June 22: State Home Minister Gaikhangam today said the energetic role played by Manipur Police Department in the maintenance of law and order as well as the counter-insurgency operations in the state is significantly improved, but the present building of Manipur Police Headquarters is outdated.

The Home Minister said this to newspersons after inspecting the Police Headquarters and 1st Battalion of Manipur Rifles at Haying Khongban here.

The state government has a plan for construction of a new building for the PHQ and it is on the looking for a new site, the Home Minister said while adding that this cannot be taken up during the current financial year.

Earlier in the day, Gaikhangam inspected the building of Criminal Investigation Department (Special Bureau) CID/SB. Achin Haokip, Superintendent of Police, CID/SB apprised the Home Minister about the present requirements of the building and the problem of accommodation.

During the inspection visit, Gaikhangam was accompanied by Principal Secretary (Home) Dr Suresh Babu, DGP Ratnakar Baral besides ADGP PM Goud and IGP (Intelligence) KT Vaiphei.

The Home Minister also visited and inspected the office buildings of SP, CID (SB), Additional DGP (Intelligence), SP NAB, Manipur Police Complex Centre (MPCC) and SP CPCR located opposite Imphal Central Jail and then battalion Headquarters of 1st Manipur Rifles.

The compound of the 1st MR HQ was developed at a cost of Rs 1.2 crore but Gaikhangam said he was quite surprised to see it because it was still incomplete.

He was also astonished to find sleeping arrangement on the floor of about 196 CRTO personnel of Manipur Police Wireless (MPW), who are undergoing training at the 1st MR battalion.

Gaikhangam also expressed that he could find certain loopholes in the state police force regarding discipline and coordination, adding that he would make effort to make it a vigorous and dutiful force.