By Imna Longchar
Dimapur (Nagaland), Oct 22: Marking a history in the police department of Nagaland, a 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 security and safety of the country, the two trained dogs, who had stole the attentions from masses through different platforms including the social media have also made a niche while paying the tribute.
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 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 government’s efforts to control the spread of Covid-19.
Patton, who is also the in-charge of home, Nagaland, also disclosed that Nagaland police have stepped beyond “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 police men and women ofthe State are taken care of.
He further disclosed that Nagaland government has declared an ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakh each for every policemen and policewomen who lost their lives due to Covid-19 while on duty during the pandemic.
Police Commemoration Parade Day, which is observed on Oct 21 every year in the state by paying tributes to the “Martyrs” who had laid down their in the line of duties , is the day when in the year 1959, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) scripted a history for their valour and sacrifice in the “inaccessible and inhospitable” terrains of “hot springs” in Ladakh.