Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 29 November 2025
Pahargaon Police Station in South Andaman has earned national recognition after being ranked the second-best police station in the country at the 60th All-India DGP/IGP Conference being held in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The ranking places Pahargaon among the top three police stations nationwide, with Ghazipur Police Station in Delhi securing first place and Kavitla Police Station from Raichur District in Karnataka taking third position. The award was presented during the inaugural session of the conference, which was inaugurated by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Mr. Amit Shah in the presence of National Security Advisor Mr. Ajit Doval and senior police leadership from across the country. Inspector Mohammed Elias, the Station House Officer of Pahargaon Police Station, received the award on behalf of the Andaman & Nicobar Police.
The recognition marks a significant achievement for policing in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Pahargaon Police Station plays a key role in managing law and order across a rapidly developing jurisdiction that includes major residential areas under the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council along with important suburban and rural pockets surrounding the capital. Considered one of the busiest and most strategically positioned police stations in the archipelago, PS Pahargaon handles a high volume of public interfaces, criminal cases, and preventive policing responsibilities, making the award a reflection of consistent on-ground performance.
The Best Police Stations ranking is an annual initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs and is coordinated through the Intelligence Bureau. The final results are traditionally announced at the DGP/IGP Conference, which is attended by the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, the NSA, and heads of police and security agencies from all states and union territories. The selection process for the rankings involves multiple stages, beginning with a large pool of police stations from across India that are gradually narrowed down based on specific performance criteria. The evaluation typically considers quality of investigation, timely disposal of cases, efficiency in maintaining law and order, community engagement, gender-sensitive policing, infrastructure and cleanliness, accessibility for complainants, use of technology and CCTNS implementation, transparency in crime reporting, and improvements in public service delivery.
The achievement also adds to a growing list of recognitions earned by the Andaman & Nicobar Police in recent years. Campbell Bay, Aberdeen, Kalighat, and Pahargaon itself have previously appeared in the national rankings, with Pahargaon earlier being placed among the top five police stations in the country. This repeated recognition reflects a sustained trend of improvement and institutional efforts rather than a one-time success.
The honour has generated pride in the islands, where modern policing challenges continue to evolve alongside growing population clusters, tourism expansion, and development activities.
