Police in Northeast should reorient themselves: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasizes the need for Northeastern police to shift focus from insurgency to citizen rights.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday (December 21, 2024) that police in the Northeastern States should change their orientation and, instead of solely focusing on combating insurgency, should ensure that every citizen is granted their constitutional right to property, honour and family protection.

“For years, the focus of the police in all States was solely on combating insurgency and violence. However, now that violence has almost ceased in the Northeast, it is time to ensure that every citizen in the region is granted their constitutional right... it is time to change the culture and direction of the Northeast police,” Mr. Shah said.

With peace prevailing in the region, the focus should now be on ensuring citizens receive their rightful entitlements, he added.

He mentioned that the prerequisite for achieving this change is the complete implementation of the three new criminal laws across all States in the region.

He was addressing the 72nd plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) at Agartala in Tripura.

The Minister urged all the Governors present at the meeting to personally monitor this process, as it was crucial to establish the belief in the Northeast that citizens can obtain justice through filing an FIR.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a campaign for a drug-free India, in which the Northeast has a special responsibility, as a major route for narcotics entering India passes through the States there. While significant work had been done over the past six years in this direction, the pace was still not sufficient.