NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police would now induct 160 police personnel from North-Eastern states for better handling of crimes against people hailing from the region, according to the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday.
The minister said that every year 10 male and female personnel will be inducted into the Force from various North-Eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
Taking the recruitment drive further, Rijiju claimed that he will be writing to the Chief Ministers of these eight states to recruit youths as per their recruitment policy and procedure while keeping the Delhi Police in the loop.
Rijiju also met people from the North-East living in the capital at the Delhi Police headquarters. He was welcomed by Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi and was given a Guard of Honour.
While interacting with people from the region, Rijiju tried to understand the problems faced by them and its possible solutions. Rijiju also praised the force for its efforts to tackle related issues and also its approach to tackling crime in the capital.
Currently, the Delhi Police has just 39 policemen from the North-Eastern states. Of these 10 belong to the IPS.
“What we have realised is that the Delhi Police do not proportionately represent the people of the North-East region in its ranks. There have been incidents (whereby) we (felt) that North-East people have to be more visible,” said Rijiju.
In the face of rising incidents of crime against people from the North-East, Rijiju also assured strict action by the ministry. He also said that they would implement recommendations of the Bezbaruah Committee. Headed by M P Bezbaruah, Member of the North Eastern Council, the Committee’s mandate was to listen to the issues brought up by the people from the North-East living in other areas of the country, especially in the metros. The Committee had submitted its report to the Union Home Ministry in July.
From 27 cases in 2011 to 73 cases in 2013, crimes against people from the North-East living in the capital have been rising alarmingly.