Special Branch
The Special Branch is an integral part of the Sikkim Police organization. It is a specialized unit of the police organization and comprises of the Intelligence Unit, FRO, Verification Unit and Security Unit. Special Branch is primarily responsible for the collection, collation of intelligence on various subjects of state and national interests and dissemination of intelligence with a view to maintain peace and order and avert threat to security and public order.
The Branch is headed by a police officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police and assisted by other officers. Special Branch has its headquarters at Tadong, Gangtok.
UNITS OF SPECIAL BRANCH
1. INTELLIGENCE UNIT:
The Intelligence Unit is responsible for the collection of intelligence on various subjects relevant to and connected with public order, security of the state and important personalities, law & order, political and communal upheavals, terrorist activities, etc. In addition to this, they also conduct confidential / discreet enquiries regarding sensitive matters and threat assessments and disseminate intelligence in a timely manner in order to avert any kind of violence or violent situations.
2. VERIFICATION UNIT:
Verification Unit of Special Branch is responsible for verification of Character and antecedents with regard to issuing of Certificate of Identification, Residential Certificate and verification referred to it by other agencies for issuing of arms licence, formation of NGOs, employment of persons, etc.
3. SECURUTY UNIT:
The Security Unit of Special Branch is mainly responsible for ensuring proximate security of VIPs of the state and VVIP/VVIPs visiting the state and to plan, co-ordinate and direct security measures to avert threat to personal security of the VIPs. The unit also assesses threat perception of various protected persons and issued guidelines to the various units in the state for ensuring their security. They also monitor the tours and programmes of protected persons, assess information gathered and issue suitable instructions to the concerned, including security agencies outside the state.
4. FOREIGNERS REGISTRATION OFFICE (FRO):
FRO is headed by the Superintendent of Police who is the Foreigners Registration Officer for the state of Sikkim. It ensures enforcement of the Foreigners Acts and Rules and strict adherence of visa rules and conditions by foreigners visiting the state. They are responsible for monitoring the movement and activities of foreigners through IVFRT (Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking) system and sharing with other agencies, intelligence relating to suspicious activities of the foreigners. Under the IVFRT system all hotel / homestay owners and institution heads are required to provide details of foreigners staying in their hotels / homestays or studying / lodged in their institutions in the following websites:
a. Hotels - indianfrro.gov.in/frro/FormC
b. Homestays/Institutions - indianfrro.gov.in/frro/FormS
Verifications of applications for Residential Certificates (RCs) of Tibetan Refugees and the issuance and extension of RCs of Tibetan Refugees is also a responsibility of FRO
The whole of Sikkim falls under the Protected Area under the Foreigners (Protected Area) Order, 1958 and parts of Sikkim has been declared as Restricted Areas under Foreigner (Restricted Area) Order, 1963 due to which foreigners can enter into Sikkim only after obtaining permit known as Inner Line Permit (ILP) alias Restricted Area Permit (RAP) / Protected Area Permit (PAP) from the concerned authority. The power to issue Inner Line Permit is delegated to MHA, all FROs, all Indian Mission abroad, Immigration Officers at Airports at New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, Chief Secretary / Home Secretary, Secretary (Tourism Department, GoS), IG of Police – Gangtok, Assistant Director (Tourism Department, GoS) – Siliguri, Deputy Director (Tourism Department, GoS) – New Delhi, Resident Commissioner, GoS – New Delhi, Assistant Resident Commissioner, GoS – Kolkata, Tourist Officer – Rangpo, District Collector – Darjeeling, Deputy Secretary / Under Secretary (Govt. of West Bengal) – Kolkata and Tourism Information Centre (TIC) – Darjeeling (West Bengal) & Melli (Sikkim). The permissible duration of stay for foreigners is up to 30 days with the state government authorized to extend the same by a further period of 30 days in two installments of 15 days by the FRO – Gangtok as well as the Superintendent of Police of all districts.
The points of entry and departure for foreigners in the state are as follows:
1. Rangpo
2. Melli
3. Ramam
4. Reshi
The nationals of the following countries are required to obtain prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to visit Sikkim:
1. Pakistan
2. China
3. Myanmar
4. Nigeria
5. Hongkong
6. Macau
In addition to that FRO verifies applications for passports and collects and shares intelligence relating to any violation of existing rules in this regard.
IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS OF SPECIAL BRANCH
SL.No |
Officers |
Contact Number |
1 |
Shri Pratap Pradhan (IPS), DIGP – Special Branch |
9046245011/ 9851480932 |
2 |
Smt. Sonam Doma Bhutia, SSP |
7407870617 |
3 |
Smt. Paru Ruchal, SSP |
9733506468 |
4 |
Shri Kushal Gazmer, ASP, Gyalshing & Soreng District |
9434318320/ 9382974276 |
5 |
Smt. Kalpana Dong, ASP, Security Wing |
7908176736 |
6 |
Smt. Binita Pradhan, ASP, Namchi District |
7908079414 |
OFFICIAL EMAIL IDS :
SL.No |
Unit / Wing of Special Branch |
Official Email |
1 |
Special Branch Headquarter |
specialbranch-hq@sikkimpolice.nic.in |
2 |
Intelligence Unit |
|
3 |
Verification Unit |
|
4 |
Security Unit |
|
5 |
Foreigners Registration Office |
|
6 |
Pakyong Airport |