Kohima: With the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival just a day away, Nagaland Police have implemented a comprehensive three-tier security system to ensure a safe and incident-free celebration at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
The festival, which runs from December 1 to 10, is expected to draw a significant increase in tourists from across the country and abroad.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Additional Director General (ADG) of Police Renchamo Kikon confirmed the multi-layered security setup. While withholding specific operational details, Kikon assured that all necessary measures have been taken to manage the large influx of visitors.
He also highlighted a directive for armed personnel in uniform to either avoid the festival venue or carry only concealed weapons to maintain a visitor-friendly atmosphere.
The officer added that 80 tourist police personnel have been deployed across five strategic locations- Dimapur Airport, Railway station, Phoolbari, PHQ, ISBT and at Kisama.
Given Kisama’s proximity to the Nagaland-Manipur border along National Highway-2, the ADG emphasised that dedicated forces have been deployed to curb potential drug smuggling and other inter-state crimes during the festival period.
Traffic Management
To address the anticipated surge in vehicular traffic, Kohima Police have issued a traffic advisory. Vehicles without valid car passes will be directed to park at designated areas in Kigwema and Phesama, from where a free shuttle bus service will transport visitors to the festival grounds.
This is the first time that free shuttle services have been introduced to ease congestion and ensure timely access to Kisama,
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