Agartala, Mar 12, 2025, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Mar 12. The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District council in 2023 passed the recruitment rules for creation of the first battalion of TTAADC police amid much fanfare and tall promises of employment for the youth. The Tipra Motha Party led ADC administration was up in arms with the decision and described it as a landmark step. Cut to 2025, the same administration is yet to issue any advertisement for the recruitment of police. It has been clearly mentioned in the Bill passed by the administration that the police battalion under the TTAADC administration would not have the right to wield rifles which means in the name of arms they would only be entitled with a lathi. Speaking on the issue, Chief Executive Member PC Jamatia said, “The Bill for raising a battalion of unarmed police was passed in 1997. The Bill also got the Governor’s assent to become an Act. In 2023, our administration framed the recruitment rules for the police battalion. Subsequently, we sought funds from the state government so that we will be able to start the recruitment process.” On the funds required for the police battalion, he said, “We haven’t specified what amount of funds is required. In 1997, the then ADC administration proposed allocation of Rs 400 crore per annum essentially to bear the expenses of salaries of the proposed police force.” Sources in the state administration described the decision as far from the practicalities of today. “The state police already have a presence across the state and hence no state government took up the matter seriously. Despite the Bill having been passed almost 30 years back, ADC administration didn’t pursue it as the elected members realized that creation of a separate police force without any arms makes no sense as they will not be able to handle any serious situation,” a source said. Sources further asserted that under the 6^th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, the TTAADC is not empowered to have a separate police department. As per the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India, the police and public order are mentioned as the state subject. According to experts, the sixth schedule gives powers to the self-governing administration to appoint village guards or volunteers for maintaining order in the village. “In such a case using the term “police” indicates an obvious attempt to mislead people. Even if they are called police, they will have no powers akin to a police official. Their duties and responsibilities will be completely different,” a source said.