NAMCHI: In a vibrant and grand celebration, the Sikkim Police marked 50th Anniversary of Sikkim’s Statehood at 3rd India Reserve Battalion (IRBn) Headquarters in Manglay, Namchi District on June 1.
The event was graced by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) as the Chief Guest and Former Sikkim Governor Ganga Prasad as the Guest of Honour.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Speaker SLA M N Sherpa, Deputy Speaker SLA Rajkumari Thapa along with Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Advisors, Chairpersons and other dignitaries.
At the outset, the Chief Minister was accorded with guard of honour by 3rd IRBn Manglay.
In his address, the Chief Minister congratulated the people of Sikkim on reaching this significant milestone in the journey of the State since its integration into the Indian Union in 1975. He lauded the contributions of the Sikkim Police in maintaining peace and security in the region and commended them for their discipline, patriotism, strengthen and capabilities.
He stated that the programme not only served as a commemoration of the Statehood celebration but also to providing an opportunity to showcase abilities of police personnel.
He further acknowledged the State’s remarkable progress across various sectors including areas such as law and order, education, health, and tourism despite being the youngest state to join the world’s largest democracy. For which, he expressed his gratitude to the police personnel and individuals from all walks of life for their collective efforts in building and advancing the state.
Further, he mentioned that the Statehood Celebration will continue until May 16, 2026, and informed that the Prime Minister of India has expressed his desire to visit Sikkim this year and participate in the celebratory events.
At the event, the Chief Minister made a slew of announcement focused on the welfare of the Sikkim Police. To keep the spirit and motivation of the police personnel, he shared that starting next year, a three-day State-Level Sikkim Police Meet will be held annually.
The Sikkim Police Meet will give police personnel a chance to showcase their talents in sports, culture, and literature. He also declared rewards for best performing, categorised as best police individuals, police station, district, battalion and also those police personnel who are working indoor based on their performance.
Similarly, he also stated that those regularised Security Assistants and Village Guards will be given special quota and reservation for promotion based on vacancies. He further informed that the age limit for recruitment into the Police Sub-Inspector has been relaxed, now extended from 18 years to 34 years.
Addressing the demands put forward by the 3rd IRBn Mamlay including a multipurpose hall, gymnasium, gallery, fencing, and other facilities, the CM assured that these proposals would be considered in the upcoming budget session.
Furthermore, the CM urged all citizens to work collectively towards the vision of a ‘Sunaulo Sikkim, Samridha Sikkim, ani Samarth Sikkim’ and called for united efforts to get rid of drug abuse and other illicit activities. He also apprised the gathering of the progress made so far under the Tuberculosis-Free Campaign, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving a TB-free Sikkim by the year 2027.
DGP Akshay Sachdeva extended his heartfelt gratitude to the CM for his support and offering an opportunity to display the police personnel talents through the programme of Statehood celebration. He reiterated that Sikkim Police has been continuing to serve the state with utmost dedication throughout the trajectory of Sikkim with professionalism, by not only maintaing law and order but also becoming readiness force as and when required to the State in any untoward calamities.
He highlighted the recent efforts of the Sikkim Police in tackling drug abuse and illegal trafficking, particularly in the Namchi District. He reaffirmed that, following the Chief Minister’s directive to eliminate the drug menace from society, police stations across the state are actively identifying and dismantling modus operandi of peddlers and apprehending those involved.
Additionally, the DGP highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Sikkim Police as part of the fitness campaign for police personnel, envisioned by the Chief Minister. He further elaborated on the crime control strategies in place and emphasized how the adoption of new equipment is enhancing policing standards across the state.
The programme featured a grand display of police contingents representing various branches and showcasing the diverse cultures of Sikkim Police. A highlight of the event was the Sikkim Police Uniform Transformation Display, which traced the evolution of police uniforms from the establishment of the force in 1897 to the present day. The presentation included units such as the STF, Fire and Emergency Services, SDRF, and the K9 Unit, and was led by PI Manoj Chettri.
Thereafter, the CM, accompanied by the former Governor, also visited various stalls showcasing equipment from the Sikkim Fire & Emergency Service, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Communication Branch, Handloom and Handicrafts by the Sikkim Armed Police Pangthang, as well as arms and equipment. Where, he interacted with the personnel and enquired about the displayed items.
IPR Report
