1st IRB has stepped up its community engagement efforts in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, organising a community policing and outreach programme at Gothol village. The initiative brought police personnel, village leaders, women and children together to discuss police-public cooperation, law and order and awareness about the risks associated with drugs. The programme formed part of the battalion’s wider efforts to strengthen its engagement with local communities.
1st IRB focuses on police-public partnership
The outreach programme was held on August 22, 2026, at the Community Centre in Gothol village. Officers and personnel of the battalion hosted the programme, which drew around 60 participants, including the Village Chief, members of the Village Authority, women and children.
According to Manipur Police, discussions centred on the importance of police-public partnership. The programme also included awareness on drug prevention, highlighting the role of community participation in addressing issues that can affect public safety and social well-being.
The Village Authority secretary expressed gratitude to the battalion for its assistance in maintaining law and order in the area. The village leadership also encouraged residents to continue cooperating with security personnel.
The outreach comes as police and security agencies in Manipur continue to place emphasis on community-level engagement alongside their security responsibilities. For the 1st IRB, such programmes provide an opportunity to interact directly with residents outside conventional law-and-order operations.
Community outreach follows cleanliness initiative
The Gothol programme was accompanied by another public-oriented activity by the battalion in Churachandpur. On August 21, around 70 officers and personnel participated in the weekly ‘Shramdaan’ initiative.
The personnel carried out a cleanliness drive at the District Hospital, Churachandpur, and the Churachandpur Medical College (CMC). The activity added a civic-service component to the battalion’s recent community engagement work.
The combination of outreach and cleanliness activities reflects the broader role assigned to police and armed police units in maintaining contact with communities. While security remains a core responsibility, public participation and cooperation can also support local efforts related to safety, cleanliness and social awareness.
Drug awareness remains a key concern
Drug prevention was one of the specific subjects addressed during the Gothol programme. Police-community discussions on drug-related risks can help residents, particularly young people and families, understand the potential social and health consequences associated with substance abuse.
The inclusion of women and children in the programme also widened its community reach. Rather than limiting the interaction to village officials, the event created space for ordinary residents to participate in discussions involving public safety and responsible community cooperation.
1st IRB maintains wider security role
The community initiative comes alongside the battalion’s continuing security duties in Churachandpur. The Manipur Police website lists the 1st IRB as being based in Churachandpur, with Khuplien Lhouvum, MPS, serving as its commandant as of June 2026.
In August, the battalion also recovered firearms, ammunition, communication equipment and an improvised mortar during a patrol in the Sehken-Khuga Dam area. The operation was conducted on August 14 amid heightened security arrangements connected with Independence Day celebrations in the district.
These activities underline the dual nature of the battalion’s responsibilities. Its personnel continue to perform security and law-and-order duties while also taking part in initiatives aimed at strengthening relations with residents.
The recent community programme therefore forms part of a broader pattern of public engagement rather than an isolated event. Similar outreach efforts by security agencies elsewhere in Manipur have focused on education, youth engagement, health and community welfare. In May 2026, for instance, Assam Rifles organised an outreach programme in Thanlon village in Pherzawl district, involving about 200 locals, including students and young people.
Building trust through local engagement
For communities in areas where security concerns remain significant, direct interaction between residents and security personnel can provide an avenue for communication. The Gothol programme placed particular emphasis on cooperation, with the Village Authority acknowledging the battalion’s law-and-order support and urging residents to maintain coordination with security personnel.
The 1st IRB can continue to build on this approach through regular interactions, awareness programmes and civic initiatives. Such activities can help create opportunities for residents to raise concerns, understand police efforts and participate in discussions on issues affecting their communities.
At the same time, the effectiveness of community policing depends on sustained engagement rather than one-time programmes. Regular communication with village authorities, families and young people can help maintain the relationship established through initiatives such as the Gothol outreach.
The latest programme in Churachandpur shows how community policing can complement conventional security duties. With police personnel engaging residents on partnership, drug awareness and civic responsibility, the 1st IRB is expanding its public-facing role while continuing its core responsibilities in maintaining security across the district.