Shillong, Jan 9: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday attended the distribution of appointment letters programme for newly recruited police personnel at the 2nd Meghalaya Police Battalion in Goeragre.

The Chief Minister was accorded a guard of honour on arrival, followed by a felicitation ceremony. Addressing the gathering, Sangma congratulated the 76 newly appointed Sub-Inspectors, describing the occasion as a significant milestone in their personal and professional lives. He noted that more than 21,000 candidates had applied for the posts, underlining the competitive nature of the recruitment process.

Emphasising public trust in the police, the Chief Minister urged the recruits to live up to the expectations of the government, their families and the people of Meghalaya. He described Sub-Inspectors as the “eyes and ears” of the police and the government, playing a key role as a link between citizens and decision-makers. He also stressed the importance of humane and people-centric policing and cautioned against misuse of authority.

Sangma advised the recruits to take their forthcoming training seriously, calling it the foundation of their policing careers. He also commended the Director General of Police and the Recruitment Board for conducting the recruitment process in a fair and transparent manner despite challenges.

Earlier, Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang said the recruitment process began with the issuance of the advertisement in March 2024 and thanked the Chief Minister and other senior officials for their support. She said the induction of 76 Sub-Inspectors strengthened the Meghalaya Police force, which currently has over 17,000 personnel.

She informed that the recruits would soon report to the North Eastern Police Academy, with basic training scheduled to begin on January 30. The batch includes 49 male and 27 female officers, with women accounting for over 35 per cent of the intake. One-third of the officers will be posted in East Khasi Hills, while the rest will be deployed across 12 other districts and units of the State.

Nongrang also noted that the batch includes 23 postgraduates and several officers from technical backgrounds, which would help the force utilise diverse skills.

Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed said the successful recruitment reflected coordinated efforts by the government and police leadership. He reminded the recruits that authority must be exercised with restraint, integrity and empathy, and urged them to remain physically and mentally fit for the demands of police service.

Appointment letters were later distributed to the newly recruited personnel, formally inducting them into the Meghalaya Police. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Rituraj Ravi, Senior Superintendent of Police (TAP).