SHILLONG: Meghalaya’s new director general of police (DGP), Idashisha Nongrang, will host weekly public meetings to address citizens’ grievances, officials announced on Wednesday (May 22).
Nongrang, the first woman to serve as DGP in Meghalaya, will meet with the public every Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM, with the first meeting scheduled for May 30.
In an official statement, Nongrang expressed her commitment to enhancing public safety and accessibility, especially for women.
“I firmly believe that women view the world from a very different perspective, and I aim to leverage this perspective to ensure women feel much safer and better about themselves, as well as to improve police accessibility,” she said.
Nongrang acknowledged the need for improvement in police-public relations and accessibility.
Nongrang also addressed the rising crime rates against women in the state, despite ongoing efforts to curb such incidents.
“We need to rethink our strategies and may adopt new approaches to deal with these situations,” she stated.
Another significant concern for DGP Nongrang is the increasing drug menace in Meghalaya.
“Earlier, Shillong was a transit point for drug peddlers. However, now peddlers have found consumers here. This is very disappointing. We must make our best efforts to stop the drug menace, not only through law enforcement but also by involving the families of drug victims to spread awareness against narcotics,” she said.
Nongrang took over as DGP of Meghalaya on May 20, succeeding LR Bishnoi, who retired on May 19.
Prior to this role, she served as the director general (DG) of civil defence and home guard in Meghalaya.
An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the 1992 batch, Nongrang will serve as Meghalaya DGP until May 19, 2026.