Tripura CM Calls for Fit, Corruption-Free and People-Centric Policing, Warns Against Political Bias and Drug Nexus
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, December 21, 2025
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Saturday made a strong pitch for physical fitness, integrity and positive public engagement among police personnel, stating that at least 50 per cent excess body fat among officers and staff must be reduced to ensure both mental and physical well-being.
Addressing a high-level law and order review meeting at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala, the Chief Minister said an unfit body often leads to an unhealthy mind, which ultimately affects policing and public service delivery. He advised police officers and employees to remain physically fit and mentally positive so that they can serve people with empathy and efficiency.
The meeting was attended by senior police officials as well as officers from the police station level. Reviewing the overall law and order situation in the state, the Chief Minister asserted that any attempt to disturb peace and harmony in Tripura would be dealt with firmly. The government, he said, will not tolerate provocation, disorder or lawlessness under any circumstances.
Speaking at a press conference in presence of Chief Secretary JK Sinha and DGP Anurag Dhankar after the meeting, Dr. Saha expressed concern over the relatively low conviction rate despite frequent seizures of narcotics. He warned that corrupt officers involved directly or indirectly in criminal activities, including drug-related cases, would face strict punishment without exception.
Highlighting the importance of police stations, the Chief Minister said that the police station is the most fundamental and crucial unit of the law and order system. For common citizens, it is the first gateway to justice. Trust in the rule of law, he noted, is built or broken at the police station level. Therefore, officers-in-charge must play a proactive role in ensuring transparency, fairness and accessibility of justice at the grassroots.
Drawing a comparison with earlier regimes, Dr. Saha said there was a time when police officers had little operational freedom due to political interference, which prevented them from acting impartially. As a result, ordinary citizens were deprived of justice. He claimed that this situation has changed significantly under the present government, which has ensured full autonomy for the police to function independently and professionally, free from political pressure.
Reminding police personnel of their responsibility, the Chief Minister said the police uniform itself is a symbol of honour and discipline, and maintaining its dignity is a moral obligation. He stressed regular evaluation of the daily performance of officers-in-charge and asked them to focus not only on crime control but also on speeding up investigations and timely filing of charge sheets.
According to the Chief Minister, crime rates across various categories in Tripura have declined compared to the previous year. He, however, urged police officials to make further efforts to reduce crime even more.
Dr. Saha also directed police stations to register all complaints without discrimination and instructed officers to act strictly in accordance with the law, without considering political affiliation or influence. The ultimate goal, he said, is to build a police force that is fit, fearless, fair and fully committed to serving the people of Tripura.
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