Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio flagged off 549 new police vehicles and 12 Mobile Forensic Vans under the Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police (ASUMP) Scheme, marking a significant step towards building a modern, responsive and people-centric police force in Nagaland.
The programme, held at the Police Complex, Chümoukedima, was a major outcome of Nagaland’s enhanced police modernisation programme for 2025-26. Rio said the new fleet reflected the government’s commitment to strengthening the operational capability of the Nagaland Police to meet evolving security challenges. He also highlighted that the state government, with support from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), had secured nearly Rs. 150 crore under the Police Modernisation Scheme.
Of the allocation, 549 vehicles worth about Rs. 81.65 crore were flagged off on Monday. The fleet comprises 152 light motor vehicles, 325 medium vehicles, 68 heavy vehicles and four motorcycles, besides 12 Mobile Forensic Vans for district-level scientific investigations. Rio directed that the vehicles be deployed strictly on operational requirements rather than rank or seniority, with priority given to district police, police stations and units in remote areas.
Director General of Police Rupin Sharma described the induction of the vehicles and forensic vans as ‘the beginning of a larger transformation journey’ for the force. He disclosed that the Police Headquarters had secured nearly Rs. 155 crore under the Police Modernisation Scheme for 2025-26, compared to the Rs. 5-20 crore received annually over the past decade.
Sharma, however, said the MHA had not sanctioned funds for construction of police stations, outposts and residential accommodation, describing infrastructure as equally critical as vehicles and equipment. He also highlighted the need for specialised recruitment of legal officers, forensic experts, software developers, IT professionals and motor mechanics to make the Nagaland Police ‘future ready’.
In a separate development, Nagaland police announced a major overhaul of its investigative capabilities with the induction of mobile forensic vans, mandatory training for investigating officers and the State Cabinet’s approval for a separate Directorate of Forensic Sciences in line with the new criminal laws.
