Arunachal Police marks 54th Raising Day, now over 14,000 strong

Arunachal Pradesh Police marked its 54th Raising Day on Sunday, November 8, with a ceremonial parade at the Police Training Centre in Banderdewa, according to a statement from the state's Directorate of Information and Public Relations reported by The News Mill.

Roing MLA Mutchu Mithi, who is an adviser to the Home Minister, attended as the chief guest. He laid a wreath at the Martyrs' Pillar in memory of personnel who died in the line of duty and inspected a parade by contingents of the civil police, the Arunachal Armed Police Battalion and the India Reserve Battalion.

A force of more than 14,000

In his address, Mithi said the state police had grown into a force of more than 14,000 personnel who serve people round the clock. He said the state government had made the police a priority and set aside a separate fund for the force's development and welfare.

He thanked officers and constables for their work and said the force's achievements rested on their sacrifices and commitment to keeping law and order.

From 1967 to specialised units

Director General of Police Rajesh Kumar traced the force's history from its beginnings in 1967 and paid tribute to its pioneers, singling out LV Sewa for laying the foundation of the organisation.

Kumar said the police now operate seven armed battalions along with specialised wings, including the Special Task Force, Fire and Emergency Services and the State Disaster Response Force. He also pointed to the expansion of police stations, women police stations and other infrastructure across the state.

The DGP said Raising Day was a time to look back on the force's journey and renew its commitment to public service, adding that its basic duty remained to protect people and uphold the law.

Policing a frontier state

Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state in the North East by area, with long international borders with China, Myanmar and Bhutan and many remote districts reached only by long mountain roads. The state police work alongside central forces and the Army in border and insurgency-affected areas, while handling everyday policing, disaster response and traffic in fast-growing towns such as Itanagar and Naharlagun.

Banderdewa, on the Assam-Arunachal border in Papum Pare district, is home to the state's main police training centre.