I. Brief History of the Unit:
Mizoram Police Radio Organization (MPRO) was established immediately after the formation of Union Territory of Mizoram in 1972 under the administrative control of Mizoram Police to provide Wireless Communication in the state primarily for maintenance of law and order and prevention and detection of crimes.
One Inspector (Operator) P.C. Laldinga was posted at Aizawl as the overall in-charge of communication and was fully responsible for establishments of office, expansion of man-power, training etc under the close supervision of Superintendent of Police (PHQ) to look after 7 (seven) Wireless Stations namely Aizawl, Serchhip, Lunglei, Champhai, Tlabung, Kolasib and Saiha. Pu P.C. Laldinga started communication with all sorts of handicap. The present MPRO Headquarter land earlier belonged to PWD and Assam Rifle. Knowing the good quality of signal; he approached Government for allotment of MPRO land and later on MPRO Headquarter was set up at Khatla, Shijav Tillah located adjacent to Mizoram PHQ.
Consequent upon the murder of 3(three) top ranking Police Officials in January 1975 in Aizawl, the Govt. of Mizoram felt the need of having an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police to head the unit and subsequently created SP (Wireless) post vide Order No. HMP 32/75/26 Dated 19th April 1975 to augment and strengthen the capabilities of this Organization in order to cater for the basic communication needs of Police and its administration. MPRO had to face all types of problems such as non-availability of wireless equipments, training of communication personnels and lack of accommodations etc etc. apart from this the prevailing insurgency in 1975, jungle mountains of Mizoram and lack of road communication facilities made communication system more difficult.
During the period of 5(five) years from 1994-1999, MPRO had handled messages of 1393 lakh of group of words and about unrecorded messages (QST) worth 600 lakh groups of words were transmitted in MPRO net for discharging Mizoram Police including other departments. This means that MPRO nets alone transmitted about 2000 lakh group of words. If the messages handled by MPRO were charged at the rate of telegram express i.e. Rs.1 per word the total work done by MPRO net alone will come to be 20 Crore during five years. The total budget allotment of MPRO during the said five years was Rs. 19.2 Crores. This budget provision includes expenditure like salary, travelling expenses, office expenses, rent, minor works, M & E, MV, maintenance, M&S, other charges etc etc. The above data clearly shows that MPRO has made a saving of Rs. 80 Lakh against the sanctioned budget if the message handled by them were charge at the same rate of Telegram express. Data mentioned above clearly shows that MPRO wireless net handled 5% more messages every year in spite of increasing wireless user Department like P & E, PHE, PWD, Excise, Industry etc. Use of wireless nets of their own by other departments seems to be encouraging because this will prevent unnecessary increase of message to Police Wireless net which will in turn can hamper the efficiency of Police Communication system.
There were 23 (twenty three) Police Stations in the Union Territory of Mizoram. All these Police Stations were provided with HF(CW) and RT communication. Soon after Mizoram achieved its statehood in the year 1987, MPRO has also tremendously grown into its manpower having total sanction strength 763 at present to look after 87 Police Radio Stations.
It is worthwhile to mention that the MPRO is the vital link amongst the various state Government Departments in general and Police Department in particular. The organization has in fact made a remarkable achievement over the year for transmitting and receiving official messages of various Departments through MPRO wireless network at free of cost due to lack of communication in the state.
Rapid growth of technology has inevitably made the organization to update its communication system to along with modern technology. Hence a trunking system was installed in the year 1997 and scrambler sets too were procured. In addition to these, data communication through VHF by using Computers and Modems (POLNET) have already been established in Kolasib, Lunglei and Saiha connecting with Hqrs. Aizawl and thus the communication network have improved tremendously at very high speed thereby increasing police efficiency.
Mizoram Police Radio Organization (MPRO) came into existence in 1972 when Mizoram became an U.T from the Lushai Hills District of the then Assam State. Initially there were seven PR stations functioning at that time and they were :- 1). Aizawl. 2). Lunglei. 3). Saiha. 4). Tlabung 5). Kolasib. 6). Serchhip. 7). Champhai.
The administration of the organization was looked after by S.P (Hqrs) from PHQ, Mizoram and the permanent S.P (Wrls.) was posted w.e.f 19.4.75 till today. From the initial staff strength of around 100 personnel, the organization has increased its activities throughout the state and now the total of staff strength is 747 and has about 85 PR Stations.
II. Establishment:
A. FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:
The main duty of the Organisation is to establish and provide wireless communication for the Police in the prevention of crimes and detection of criminals and for maintenance of law and order in the state. Besides this, the Organisation has also been rendering help to other govt. departments by way of transmitting and receiving their messages of all natures over wireless grids due to lack of other communication facilities in the state. MPRO also extends help to public and other NGOs for providing wireless communications on their request as and when situation prevails.
There are 4 trades under MPRO:
(a) Operator Trade:-
Their main job is to receive and transmit messages through Police Wireless Network.
(b) Cipher Trade:-
Their main job is to encode and decode classified messages received by the Police Wireless stations.
(c) Radio Mechanic Trade :-
Their main job is to maintain and repairing Wireless equipments held by the Organization.
(d) Fitter/ Electrician Trade:-
Their main job is to look after and maintaining of all the power sources used for Radio equipment to maintain to flow less communications.
Apart from the above Trades, Constable (General duty) and Followers are held responsible for delivering messages received by the Message Control Center ( MCC) as well as Police Wireless stations throughout the State.
All important and major decision required making concerning policy matters are referred to Police Headquarters and only minor decision making is made by the Unit Head. Any proposal or scheme are initiated by the dealing Assistant of the concerned branch from the concerned file which was routed through the branch head to their respective Officer in charge who then put up the subject to the S.P (W) for final decision and orders/instructions.
Each and every employees of the Organization is governed by the rules and regulations lay down by Mizoran Police Manual and other related rules and regulations issued by the Government to its employees from time to time.
Apart from this, the Radio Procedure for Police services issued by Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, DCPW is strictly followed in all the PR Stations for transmission/receiving and handling of all types of messages of different natures.
The organization is holding both confidential and secret documents and the majority of the documents held by it are ordinary documents.The confidential and secret document includes Cipher Codes, PWCC and some messages transmitted and received in coded types.
B. VARIOUS BRANCHES AT HEADQUARTER AIZAWL
1) MESSAGE CONTROL CENTER (MCC): MCC is the main control station over all Police Radio within the state. The main function of MCC is transmission and reception of messages over radio communication network for the police department as well as other departments. It is responsible for maintaining radio discipline and radio procedure observed by all stations and efficient clearance of all traffic between all stations.
2) CIPHER BRANCH : The main function of Cipher Branch in Police Wireless Network is to deal with classified message as such TOPSECRET, SECRET and Confidential nature. They encode the plain language before its transmission over wireless Net and decode Cipher message into plain language which are received from other station. The object is to introduce the cipher system in Police Wireless to safeguard the communication security, the cipher system is very important to introduce maximum communication security to classified messages.
3) COMPUTERS & SOFTWARE CELL : The main functions of Computer & Software Cell is to maintain and look after Computer and its accessories held by the Organization. Mizoram Police Website (www.police.mizoram.gov.in) is being designed, developed and maintained by this cell. They are organizing Training on Computer related course to staffs of this Organization.
4) RESERVE OFFICE : Reserve Office is located at MPRO Headquarters. It is a part of the office of the Superintendent of Police(Wrls.) under the charge of Inspector known as Reserve Officer, assisted by Sub-Inspectors, Assistant Sub-Inspectors and other staff. They are responsible for all matters of correspondences and other duties in respect of the member of the force, examine petitions and applications from the staff, issue leave certificate and check leave certificate on return of staff from leave, ensure that the Service books are maintained up to date and deal with all correspondences relating to service matters, prepare pension papers of Officers and men and that the accounts of men leaving the force are adjusted, prepare all periodical returns relating to the reserve and establishment and submit them on due dates, maintain Force Register etc.
5) GENERAL & ACCOUNT BRANCH : The General branch handles all matters of Pay and allowance, TA bills, Contingency bills, loans and advances, audit objections and all correspondence connected with financial transaction. The branch is headed by an Inspector (Ministerial) assisted by Sub-Inspector (Ministerial) and Assistant Sub-Inspector (Ministerial). One reliable Sub-Inspector (Ministerial) is invariably appointed as Cashier for 3 years. All financial bills are put up through the Additional Superintendent of Police (Comn) who practically is the in-charge of General branch.
6) M.T BRANCH: The Motor Transport Branch is responsible for repair, maintenance and care of all the vehicles, MT Branch is headed by Inspector known as Motor Transport Officer(MTO) assisted by Assistant Sub-Inspector and as many literate constables as required. The mechanic, driver and helpers are under his control. MT Branch also deals with correspondence and bills and other works under this branch.
7) MAINTENANCE OF BUILDING & REPAIRS BRANCH : This Branch is headed by Inspector, assisted by Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police and numbers of staffs. The branch deals with all matters relating to construction of new building, their maintenance and repairs and also with matter connected with MPRO land like construction of retaining wall, side drain, water connection and Latrine etc. They also make different furniture for unit headquarters and various PR stations.
8) TECHNICAL STORE : Technical Store is headed by Inspector assisted by Sub-Inspector, Assistant Sub-Inspector and other staff. They deals with technical equipments like records keeping of all wireless sets and its accessories, procurement – proposal for equipments and its accessories, correspondence parts aiming to spectrum charge (renewal of license and royalty), preparation of communication plan, survey condemnation and auction of wireless sets accessories and spare parts. They are responsible for issuing and receiving of communication equipments.
9) FITTER BRANCH : Fitter branch is headed by Inspector (Fitter) assisted by Sub-Inspector (Fitter) and other staff. Their main functions are maintaining and operating Diesel Generator which was use as secondary power supply for this unit and Police Headquarters, maintaining Secondary Battery for W.T sets and Solar Module of this Unit, repairs and electric wiring for MPRO Office building and Staff quarters within Mizoram as well as Police Headquarters and CID Complex.
10) CLOTHING BRANCH: Clothing Branch is responsible for receipt and issue of clothing, maintenance of stock register, proper storage of clothing and all matters of correspondences including preparation of clothing indents and also condemnation of clothing and other equipments. Unit Tailors are also under the control of this branch. The unit tailor stitches staff uniforms. This branch is headed by Inspector, assisted by Assistant Sub-Inspector and other staff.
11) TRAINING BRANCH : The Training Branch manned by Inspector assisted by some Instructors above the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector is a part of this unit. Their main function is conducting Police Wireless Operator(PWO) Grade Training for 3rd Grade,2nd Grade and 1st Grade. Besides PWO training,communication security training and Police Wireless Communication Code(PWCC)training is also conducted by them. MPRO Training Center is located at Durtlang hillock.
12) RADIO MECHANIC BRANCH : Radio Mechanic Branch is headed by Inspector, assisted by Sub-Inspector, Assistant Sub-Inspector and other staff. They deals with repairing Wireless sets and its accessories and other equipment, allotment of frequencies and programming wireless sets. They conduct radio trial and establish Radio Communication for all the districts within Mizoram. They look after POLNET and DATA communications of this unit.
C. LIST OF POLICE RADIO STATIONS
| SL NO | NAME OF PR STATION & ITS LOCATION |
| DIST : AIZAWL | |
| 1 | Message Control Centre (MCC), Aizawl |
| 2 | Saitual P.S. |
| 3 | Bawngkawn P.S. |
| 4 | Aizawl P.S. |
| 5 | Sialsuk P.S. |
| 6 | Sairang P.S. |
| 7 | Lengpui Airport |
| 8 | Luangmual Complex O.P. |
| 9 | Durtlang Repeater Station |
| 10 | 4th IR Bn. Falkawn |
| 11 | Chawlhhmun (MRHG) |
| 12 | 1st Bn. MAP, Armed Veng |
| 13 | Darlawn P.S. |
| 14 | 3rd Bn. MAP, Mualpui |
| 15 | 5th IR Bn, Lungverh |
| 16 | CTI Sesawng |
| 17 | Vaivakawn P.S. |
| 18 | New Vervek O.P. |
| 19 | Vanbawng Repeater Station/BOP |
| 20 | Zohmun BOP |
| 21 | Sakawrdai P.S. |
| 22 | Vaitin BOP |
| 23 | Khawlian BOP |
| 24 | Suangpuilawn BOP |
| 25 | Laipuitlang Repeater Station |
| 26 | District Emergency Operation Centre, Aizawl |
| 27 | Hmuifang Repeater Station |
| 28 | Aizawl Traffic Control |
| DIST : LUNGLEI | |
| 1 | Lunglei Control Station |
| 2 | Hnahthial P.S. |
| 3 | Thlabung P.S. |
| 4 | Bunghmun P.S. |
| 5 | Lungsen P.S. |
| 6 | Thingsai P.S. |
| 7 | 2nd Bn. MAP, Luangmual |
| 8 | S’ Vanlaiphai P.S. |
| DIST : SERCHHIP | |
| 1 | Serchhip P.S. |
| 2 | Thenzawl P.S. |
| 3 | N’ Vanlaiphai P.S. |
| 4 | PTC Thenzawl |
| DIST : SAIHA | |
| 1 | Saiha Control Station |
| 2 | Tuipang P.S. |
| 3 | Kawlchaw O.P. |
| 4 | Phura O.P. |
| 5 | Lungbun O.P. |
| DIST : LAWNGTLAI | |
| 1 | Lawngtlai Control Station |
| 2 | Vasei O.P. |
| 3 | Borapansury P.S. |
| 4 | Chawngte P.S. |
| 5 | Sangau P.S. |
| 6 | Bungtlang ‘S’ O.P. |
| 7 | Bualpui NG O.P. |
| DIST : CHAMPHAI | |
| 1 | Champhai Control Station |
| 2 | Khawzawl P.S. |
| 3 | Zokhawthar O.P. |
| 4 | 2nd IR Bn., Khawzawl |
| 5 | Dungtlang Repeater Station |
| 6 | Ngopa P.S. |
| 7 | N.E.Khawdungsei P.S. |
| DIST : KOLASIB | |
| 1 | Kolasib Control Station |
| 2 | Silchar Mizoram House |
| 3 | Vairengte P.S. |
| 4 | Bilkhawthlir O.P. |
| 5 | Kawnpui P.S. |
| 6 | 1st IR Bn., Mualvum |
| 7 | Zophai BOP |
| 8 | Bairabi P.S. |
| 9 | Saiphai BOP |
| 10 | Saipum BOP |
| 11 | Serlui ‘B’ Hydel Project |
| 12 | Phaisen BOP |
| DIST : MAMIT | |
| 1 | Mamit Control Station |
| 2 | Kawrthah P.S. |
| 3 | Zawlnuam P.S. |
| 4 | Kanhmun O.P. |
| 5 | New Kawnpui BOP |
| 6 | W’ Phaileng P.S. |
| 7 | Tuipuibari P.S. |
| 8 | Zamuang BOP |
| 9 | Borai BOP |
| 10 | Phuldungsei P.S./Repeater Station |
| 11 | Saikhawthlir BOP |
| 12 | Damparengpui BOP |
| 13 | Marpara P.S. |
| 14 | 4th IR Bn., Luangpawl |
| G. TOTAL | 85 PR Stations |
D. TECHNICAL TRAINING SCHOOL
BRIEF HISTORY: Communication by scientific means is an important part of today’s technology. The scientific improvements in modern communication have brought different corners of the world closer than ever before. The need for establishing a good communication in Mizoram was also felt by the Government which finally led to the existence of MPRO in the year 1972 under the supervision of one head designated as SP(PHQ).
After Mizoram became UT in 1972, some of the Assam Police personnel were inducted into Mizoram Police thereby paving the way for the induction of APRO staff into MPRO. In the same year, the Government of Mizoram created 24 various posts in Police Wireless vide order No. HMP-4/72/PT-1/87 Dt.29.3.1972 which were filled up deputation and by direct recruitment. Since then, MPRO personnel who were recruited/absorbed from APRO were compelled to work immediately ignoring either Police Basic Training or Technical Training due to insurgency in the State.
In the year 1973, about 4 SI’s and 19 operators were recruited and were directly sent to the Technical Training Institute either at CPRTI New Delhi or at UP Radio Organization, Mahanapur, Lucknow without undergoing Police Basic Training which is a must for every newly recruited Policeman. After completion of their training course, they were sent to various PR stations and it is very unfortunate to learn that most of these MPRO staff had never a chance to undergo Police Basic Training.
But after a decade in 1983, a short course for a period of 3 months basic training course was held at PHQ Aizawl and about 20 MPRO personnel attended the course successfully. It has been felt that the duration of basic training period for MPRO staff is too short in comparison to nine months course spent by other Police personnel but this could not be achieved due shortage of Manpower in the unit till order was passed by IGP Mizoram vide Letter No. E/PHQ/18/93/78. Dt.25.2.93. However, because of the long experience of the unit, most of the MPRO staff were trained for a period of three months only till 1997.
Meanwhile Pu P.C Lallianthanga joined MPRO as direct Dy.S.P (C) on 10.4.92. He and 2 senior Officers namely Pu K. Lalchhunga IGP(M) and Pu C. Khenglawt DIG(Admn) thoughtfully decided that the Officers of MPRO should undergo normal Basic Training Course like the Officers of other units and also to perform District Practical Training during their probation periods. Further, in addition to this, the officer after completion of his probation period will have to undergo technical familiarization course for a period of 4 months either at APRO Assam or CPRTI New Delhi.
Now, the newly appointed officers of this unit have been undergoing Basic Training at NEPA as per the desire of the authority. As expected, it has been noticed that the discipline of the staff who performed Basic Training at NEPA is far superior in comparison to the discipline of the staff who performed only three months Basic Training course. The practical training during probation period is found to be of great value as the officers have familiarized all the works of different units. Moreover, a time may come when the officers will have to co-ordinate with all sections of Police force.
In MPRO, after completion of Basic Training as per the recruitment rules, one has to pass grade examination to enable him to get promoted to next higher rank. Grade examination is for various trade viz:- Operating, Fitter, Cipher and Radio Mechanic(RM). Grade-II and grade-III examinations for operator have been held in MPRO since 1983 till date.
TRAINING SCHOOL: MPRO Training School was established in the year 1983 and was inaugurated by S.P Ganguly SP(W) at MPRO HQRS Aizawl. As a new school was established, the expenditure for sending MPRO Staff outside Mizoram for training had decreased drastically. The school is mainly oriented towards modern communication system and discipline, it also teaches fundamentals of technical subjects such as Physics, Mathematics, Electronics etc. in addition to subjects related to communication. Besides theory papers, practicals are also essential for certain subjects and one has to possess a considerable standard of knowledge theoretically and practically in order to get through the examinations.
The training school also provides an opportunity to persons who are interested in reading by maintaining a library. The staff and trainees of the unit now have ample chance to enrich their knowledge in various subjects by making use of the library rather than wasting their free time.
The MPRO training school has four regular indoor instructors and one outdoor instructor. During office hours, the trainees attend indoor classes as a preparation for the said grade examination and they attend PT and parade on every Monday and Thursday early in the morning to develop their physical fitness. A periodic inspection is also held regularly in the classroom to ensure that the turn-out of each and every trainees is satisfactory.
For most of the final examinations held, supplementary examinations are conducted for the unsuccessful candidates and many candidates have made use of the supplementary examinations.
MPRO is proud of its regular instructors who dedicated all their valuable times and efforts in moulding and upgrading the status of the trainees of the MPRO and for being able to conduct a number of grade examinations and also for helping the trainees in bringing out fruitful results in their exams.
In the current session, the 4th batch PWO-I and 18th batch PWO-III course is in progress and the final examination is likely to be held in the month of December 2011.
In the beginning, the School was established at Headquarter Aizawl. But due to the increase in the number of staff and trainees, it was too congested and was then shifted to Durtlang.