Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma on Monday said the Nagaland Police is undergoing a major transformation from a force traditionally centred on armed policing to one that prioritises scientific investigation, forensic evidence and technology-driven policing in line with the country’s new criminal laws.
Addressing a press conference after the flagging off of 549 new police vehicles, Sharma said that while Nagaland Police had historically focused on armed policing due to the state’s security situation, investigation-related capabilities had not received equal attention in the past.
Responding to a question on what the department and the state government are doing to strengthen investigation, Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said Nagaland Police is undergoing a significant shift from its traditional focus on armed policing towards scientific and technology-driven investigation.
He said that traditionally the force had been built around armed policing due to the state’s security requirements, with comparatively less emphasis on investigation, CID strength and scientific investigative tools. However, with the implementation of the new criminal laws and changing policing practices across the country, investigation has now become a key priority.
Sharma said that over the past three to three-and-a-half years, the Police Headquarters has made a conscious effort to strengthen investigative capabilities. Apart from upgrading routine investigative equipment, the State Forensic Science Laboratory has also been substantially modernised over the last four years.
Highlighting the newly inducted Mobile Forensic Vans, he clarified that the vehicles are much more than transport units.
“These are not just vans for carrying personnel or lifting fingerprints. They are equipped with multiple forensic tools. If a mobile phone, laptop or any electronic device is seized at the scene of crime, the van has the capability to create clone copies of the devices on the spot, which will greatly assist investigations,” he said.
The DGP added that the vans carry several specialised forensic instruments, the detailed specifications of which would be shared separately by the Police Headquarters.
Describing the vehicles as a major step forward for scientific policing in Nagaland, Sharma said they would significantly improve the quality and speed of criminal investigations across the state.
He further informed that Nagaland Police has been conducting regular capacity-building programmes for investigating officers covering cybercrime, forensic science and other specialised areas of investigation.
According to Sharma, officers operating the mobile forensic vans have already undergone a two-day specialised training programme. In addition, another training programme on investigation of insurgency and terrorism-related cases, being conducted with the assistance of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was also scheduled to commence.
Supplementing the DGP, Additional Director General of Police (L&O), Sandeep M Tamgadge said that while modern equipment is essential, it must be complemented by proper training to improve the professionalism of the police force.
He said the newly inducted Mobile Forensic Vans have become particularly significant following the implementation of the new criminal laws, which mandate time-bound investigations and trials.
Under the new legal framework, he noted, forensic examination has become compulsory in offences punishable with more than seven years’ imprisonment, requiring forensic teams to visit the crime scene.
Sandeep explained that the vans are equipped with facilities not only for lifting fingerprints but also for collecting blood samples and other biological evidence, conducting preliminary examination of narcotics and explosives, and handling cybercrime investigations, including cloning data from mobile phones and electronic devices seized at crime scenes.
He added that the vehicles are also fitted with inverters and portable generators, enabling them to function effectively even in remote locations where power supply may not be available.
“The idea is not to limit these facilities to Dimapur and Kohima alone. We have also taken into account remote districts such as Noklak and Shamator, where these vans will be equally useful,” he said.
Acknowledging that procuring modern equipment alone cannot transform policing, Sandeep said the department is simultaneously investing in skill development through regular training programmes, workshops and specialised courses.
These include programmes on forensic science, investigation techniques, cybercrime, terrorism and other specialised subjects, conducted in collaboration with organisations such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and NIELIT.
Nagaland Police aims to deploy forensic vans in every district, proposes Scene of Crime Officers
Responding to a query on the delayed arrival of forensic teams in recent cases, including the rape of an elderly woman where investigators reached the scene the following day, Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said the long-term objective is to station at least one Mobile Forensic Van in every district.
However, he said deployment is currently being planned based on crime patterns and operational requirements to ensure optimum utilisation of resources.
“Some districts witness relatively fewer serious crimes. If we permanently deploy a forensic van there, it may remain unused for most of the year. We have to deploy our resources judiciously so that they are available where the need is greater,” Sharma said.
He explained that while the ultimate goal is district-wise deployment, the present strategy is to position the vans strategically so they can quickly reach neighbouring districts whenever required.
“We have worked out a system where the forensic vans are located closer to districts that need them, so that instead of taking 24 or 36 hours to reach a crime scene, the response time can be reduced to around two hours,” he said.
Responding to another question on whether trained personnel are available to operate the specialised vehicles, Sharma acknowledged that forensic science is a highly technical field requiring specialised expertise.
“A little bit of training has been given, but still forensics is a very technical and specialized job. We will either have to bring in new people or train existing ones,” he said.
The DGP also pointed to an institutional issue regarding the management of the forensic vans, noting that the State is in the process of establishing a separate Directorate of Forensic Sciences, while the police continue to serve as the first responders at crime scenes.
To bridge this gap, Police Headquarters has proposed the creation of dedicated Scene of Crime Officers, who would receive specialised training in preserving and collecting forensic evidence immediately after a crime is reported.
“The Scene of Crime Officers can work alongside the forensic team and the mobile forensic van. Since all evidence collected ultimately has to be examined in the forensic laboratory, both systems must function in close coordination,” Sharma said.
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Recruitment of forensic experts underway, more specialised posts needed
Responding to a question on the recruitment of technical experts for forensic services, Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said the Police Headquarters is aware of the issue and has already initiated the recruitment process through the State Government.
He said Police Headquarters had submitted a proposal to the government requesting that vacancies be referred to the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) for recruitment.
“For filling up five posts, we have requested to NPSC through the state government. It has been advertised and and I am informed by the Special Secretary, Home, that those posts have already been advertised,” he said.
While welcoming the recruitment process, the DGP observed that the State would require considerably more technical manpower as forensic capabilities continue to expand.
He said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) would eventually need additional specialised sections, branches and divisions to meet the growing demands of scientific investigation under the new criminal laws.
IED blast investigation progressing, NIA decision awaited
Responding to a question on the investigation into the recent IED blast and the reported involvement of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said Nagaland Police is actively pursuing multiple leads but declined to disclose operational details to avoid compromising the investigation.
“We are following some leads. Some of the samples for the IEDs and all have been sent to the, have been collected and sent to the NSG for analysis. We are following some leads, both human intelligence as well as investigation leads. So it’s better that we don’t share anything,” Sharma said.
He informed that forensic samples from the blast site have been sent to the National Security Guard (NSG) for scientific analysis.
Clarifying reports that the case would be handed over to the NIA, Sharma explained that while the State Government can recommend such a transfer, the final decision rests with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.
“The State Government may propose that a case be investigated by the NIA, but the final decision is taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs. As of now, no official communication has been received by us regarding that decision,” he said.
Postmortems in unnatural death cases are legally mandatory
Responding to a query on the refusal of postmortems by family members in cases of unnatural deaths, Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said such situations have been a longstanding challenge in Nagaland, but stressed that postmortems are legally mandatory in such cases.
He said that although police often face resistance due to the sentiments of bereaved families, bypassing the legal procedure is not permissible.
“This is not a new problem. It has existed since I joined service in Nagaland. Legally, there has to be a postmortem. It is almost mandatory. Family members may request that it should not be conducted because of emotional or cultural reasons, but legally that is the wrong course of action and would amount to going against the law,” Sharma said.
He urged the public to report all crime-related incidents to the police and allow the legal process to take its course.
“There is state machinery and a legal procedure for handling such cases. I request everyone to cooperate with the police and report all crimes instead of bypassing the law,” he said.
The DGP also appealed to landlords and tenants across the state to register themselves through the Nagaland Police tenant verification application, saying it would greatly assist investigations and improve public safety.
“We have developed an app for landlord and tenant registration. I request both landlords and tenants to use it. It will help us investigate crimes more effectively and enhance public safety,” he said.
Sharma further urged hotel owners and operators of lodging establishments to make use of the online guest registration platform developed by the police. Earlier, hotels were required to submit guest records manually to police stations.
Commenting on the overall security scenario, Sharma said the law and order situation in Nagaland remains largely normal, although there is a need for continued vigilance in view of developments in neighbouring Manipur.
“There may be occasional ripple effects from the situation in Manipur, but I sincerely thank the people of Nagaland, apex tribal bodies and civil society organisations for exercising restraint. It is a sensitive issue where even a single irresponsible statement can create problems,” he said.
The DGP assured that the police and district administrations would continue to work in close coordination to maintain peace and appealed to the public to extend their cooperation.
“We will continue to do our part, and I request everyone to continue supporting efforts to preserve peace in the state,” Sharma added.
