The Manipur government on Sunday approved the establishment of a new Secretariat Police Station at Mantripukhri and sanctioned twelve new Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) posts across various districts.
The move, based on a proposal from the Manipur Police Department, is aimed at strengthening district-level policing, improving supervision of investigations and enhancing law and order management, particularly in newly created and sensitive districts.
The decision comes in the context of the planned relocation of the State Civil Secretariat and Police Headquarters to Mantripukhri.
The new police station will provide dedicated security coverage to the upcoming government complex, as well as nearby institutions such as the Manipur High Court, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and the Forest Office Complex.
In addition, the administration has sanctioned an SDPO post under Imphal East district for the New Capital Complex. This is expected to ensure better coordination between the new Secretariat Police Station and the existing Heingang Police Station.
To address the shortage of supervisory officers in several districts, the state has approved new SDPO posts in Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Pherzawl and Noney. In districts such as Chandel, Churachandpur and Tamenglong, where only one SDPO post currently exists, police operations have been strained due to rising crime and growing administrative demands.
As per the revised structure, Kangpokpi district will get three SDPOs (for Kangpokpi, Sapermeina, and New Keithelmanbi), Kamjong will get two (Kasom Khullen and Kamjong), and one SDPO each will be posted in Tengnoupal, Pherzawl and Noney.
Additional SDPOs will also be deployed in Churachandpur (Singhat), Chandel (Chakpikarong), Tamenglong (Tamei) and Imphal East (New Capital Complex).
The government has opted for a cost-neutral approach. The new SDPO positions will be filled by reallocating personnel from existing Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) or Assistant Commandant-level posts.
Similarly, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Secretariat Police Station will be appointed by converting an already sanctioned Inspector post. This method ensures there is no additional financial burden on the state exchequer.
According to the Director General of Police, the structural changes are expected to improve command and control, case follow-up, and the overall responsiveness of the police force. The new arrangements are also aimed at enhancing law enforcement in border and remote areas.
The state government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening policing infrastructure in a sustainable, efficient and citizen-oriented manner. Officials described the initiative as a forward-looking step toward improving public safety and administrative coordination across Manipur.
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