Agartala, December 20:
Asserting that his government is committed to building a “New Tripura” with strict rule of law, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Saturday said overall crime in the state has reduced considerably compared to the previous years, but stressed that further improvement remains a priority.
To strengthen policing at the grassroots, a crucial meeting of all Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of police stations across Tripura was held at Pragna Bhavan here, chaired by the Chief Minister in the presence of DGP Anurag Dhankar, Chief Secretary J K Sinha and other senior police officials.
The meeting assumed significance in view of the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections and the prevailing tensions in neighbouring Bangladesh, which surrounds Tripura on three sides.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Dr Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, issued a clear warning against the earlier practice of acting at the behest of political leaders or maintaining “close relations” that compromised discipline and neutrality.
He directed police officers to act firmly, independently and strictly as per law.
“Whatever we do, the delivery system starts from the police station. Earlier, political interference at the ground level weakened the system. That culture must end. I have never called any OC, and the police have been given a total free hand,” the Chief Minister said.
Dr Saha claimed that overall recorded crime in Tripura stood at 5,002 cases in 2023, while up to November this year it was 3,386, reflecting an average reduction of around nine per cent.
He said crimes against the human body declined from 1,385 cases in 2023 to 753 till November this year, while murder cases fell from 412 to 275 during the same period. Crimes against women also showed a downward trend, decreasing from 791 cases in 2023 to 627 this year till November.
“We have also discussed NDPS cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear that there is zero tolerance against drugs. The present government will not compromise on law and order. If everyone works together, we can build New India and New Tripura,” he said.
Highlighting the role of the police, Dr Saha said Tripura has 90 police stations and nine women police stations, and urged officers to maintain professional conduct while remembering that police personnel are also part of society.
On the forthcoming TTAADC elections, the Chief Minister issued a stern warning, stating that the government is fully prepared to conduct free and peaceful polls at the appropriate time. Without naming any party, he cautioned that any attempt to capture the elections through force or intimidation would not be tolerated.
“The election must be conducted peacefully. Law will take its own course if anyone tries to disturb the democratic process,” he asserted.
