Shillong, May 14: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday flagged off a new fleet of police vehicles at the Police Officers’ Mess, Golflink, Shillong, aimed at strengthening the operational preparedness, mobility and public service delivery capabilities of the Meghalaya Police.
Director General of Police I Nongrang, senior government officials and police personnel were present during the programme.
Officials informed that a total of 95 vehicles have been procured for the police department, of which 79 vehicles were acquired through financial assistance provided by the Government of India under the Central Assistance to State Police Scheme.
The new fleet includes 20 Maruti Jimny vehicles, 19 heavy Tata truck troop carriers, 5 Mahindra mini trucks, 19 bus troop carriers with seating capacity for 20 personnel, 10 bus troop carriers with capacity for 24 personnel, 8 bus troop carriers with seating capacity for 36 personnel and 8 Tata Yodha vehicles for the CID wing. The procurement of the vehicles reportedly involved an investment of nearly ₹30 crore.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of maintaining law and order and reaffirmed the government’s commitment towards strengthening the police force through continued investments and reforms.
“The maintenance of law and order remains one of the most critical responsibilities of any government. Our commitment to strengthening law enforcement is reflected not just in our words, but more importantly, in our actions,” Sangma said.
Highlighting ongoing police modernisation efforts, he said the government has focused on upgrading police infrastructure and empowering officers at the district level for quicker and more effective execution of responsibilities.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that more than 3,000 personnel have been recruited into long-vacant posts to strengthen manpower within the police department.
Referring to the recent tensions in Lapangap in West Jaintia Hills, Sangma commended the police force for maintaining peace and stability while the government continued dialogue with stakeholders and authorities in Assam over the interstate boundary issue.
“Our goal is to ensure that the presence of our police force is felt not only in Shillong or at headquarters, but across every corner of our state,” he said.
The Chief Minister also congratulated DGP I Nongrang and the Meghalaya Police for their dedication and commitment in maintaining law and order across the state.
