Itanagar, Mar 2: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday stressed the need for robust internal security, technology-driven policing, and conviction-oriented criminal justice delivery while addressing the inaugural session of the State-Level Conference of Superintendents of Police and Commandants at the DK Convention Centre here.
The conference, attended by Home Minister Mama Natung, Advisor to Home Mutchu Mithi, Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, Director General of Police Dr SD Singh Jamwal, senior police officers, CAPF representatives and civil administration officials, was organised as a follow-up to the 60th All India Conference of DGPs held recently in Raipur and chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Emphasizing that development and law and order must go hand in hand, the Chief Minister said, “Without maintaining law and order, development cannot move forward.” He called for strengthening cyber capabilities and digital forensics, noting that technology is the future of policing.
He also underlined the need to activate official social media platforms of the Police Department to enhance public awareness and transparency. Suggesting the formation of a dedicated social media team under the DGP, he advised district SPs to use official platforms responsibly. “The public must know the good work done by the police. Social media should be used for official communication, not personal purposes,” he said.
On border management, Khandu observed that Arunachal Pradesh, the largest state in the Northeast, shares international boundaries with Bhutan and Myanmar, besides a border with Tibet. He stressed the importance of correct official references in correspondence and called for heightened vigilance along the Myanmar border, particularly in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, where extortion and drug trafficking linked to cross-border insurgent influence remain concerns.
“We do not have homegrown insurgency. Whatever challenges exist, we must take ownership and resolve them. We cannot remain dependent on the Government of India for everything. It is our State, and we must rectify our issues,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister commended Arunachal Pradesh Police for neutralising attempts to revive insurgency under the banner of the United Tani Army and called for strengthening the Special Task Force, enhancing training and manpower, and improving coordination with central armed forces, including the Assam Rifles.
On illegal immigration, Khandu informed that the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, is being technologically upgraded and will soon be launched in digital format across the State. He stressed proactive measures to check illegal immigration in the coming days.
Referring to the new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — introduced under the leadership of the Prime Minister, he described them as a transformative shift in India’s criminal justice system. He congratulated the State Police for achieving 100 percent training coverage and rolling out initiatives such as e-Suraksha, e-Summons, ICJS integration, Nyay Shruti and deployment of mobile forensic vans.
However, he emphasised the urgent need to move from arrest-oriented to conviction-oriented policing. “Arrests alone are not enough. Our conviction rate is reportedly around 30 percent. We must coordinate with the Law and Judiciary Departments to understand why convictions are low and address the gaps,” he said, calling for joint brainstorming among police, law and judicial departments. He stressed securing the “golden hour” for evidence preservation and strengthening the State Forensic Science Laboratory, including manpower augmentation.
Highlighting the importance of internal security in the journey towards a developed Arunachal, the Chief Minister called for greater focus on modern criminal justice systems, AI-driven policing, cyber security, narcotics control, and women and child safety.
He congratulated Roing Police Station for receiving the Best Police Station Award 2025 and lauded the team for meeting national parameters through effective policing marked by integrity, empathy, discipline and technological adoption.
The Chief Minister also highlighted key achievements of the State Police, including structured implementation of new criminal laws, destruction of around 16,000 acres of illicit poppy and cannabis cultivation, registration of hundreds of NDPS cases, major narcotics seizures, and dismantling of an inter-state vehicle theft syndicate.
“Arunachal has transformed significantly in the last decade. The Police Department has also received substantial support from the Government, and we will continue to strengthen it further,” he assured, adding that recommendations emerging from the conference would be backed by financial allocations in the upcoming budget.
Reiterating that peace and stability remain top priorities, the Chief Minister urged all officers to submit compliance reports on time and to conduct similar orientation meetings at district levels to ensure effective implementation of conference outcomes at the grassroots.