BHOPAL: The Narendra Modi government has achieved huge success in finding a permanent solution to three problems — terrorism in Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism and drugs and armed groups in the North East, Union home minister Amit Shah said at the inaugural session of the 48th All India Police Science Congress in Bhopal on Friday.
“Many armed groups have laid down arms and joined the mainstream after the abrogation of Article 370, and a new era of enthusiasm and development has begun in Kashmir,” Shah said. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised Shah for abolition of Article 370 and “bringing Naxalism and terrorism under leash”.
The era of British-style policing has ended and it will be replaced with “knowledge-based, evidence-based and logicbased policing”, Shah said. “We will have to change the science of policing,” he said, and announced the setting up of a National Forensic Sciences University in Bhopal. “Now, crimes are taking place that cannot be fought without police modernization, police coordination across the country and imbibing technology,” Shah said.
Police departments should institutionalize a 10-year strategy and perform annual reviews, he suggested. “Police face a common challenge from armed groups. There are several states facing Left Wing Extremism but the challenge is the same. If state police work in isolation, then we will not be able to face all these challenges properly,” he said, adding that there is no need to change the Constitution but meets such as the All India Police Science Congress and DG Conference give a platform to states to discuss problems and form a uniform policy.
“Law and order is a state subject, which is why police work under the direction of elected governments in the state. The biggest challenge is uniformity of response. We cannot face the challenges properly if state police work in isolation,” he pointed out.
“Criminals are being equipped with new technology from across the globe and it is very important that police should be two steps ahead. For this, police also have to be modernized, tech-savvy and use technology till the beat level. Until the use of technology reaches the constable and head constable, we cannot fight against new types of crimes,” Shah said, adding: “Data is the new science and big data is the solution.”
The ministry of home affairs has created a blueprint for the ‘Police Technology Mission’ announced by PM Narendra Modi, and it will be sent to state police for suggestions, Shah said, adding that this will lead to uniformity in equipment and technology in police forces across the country . “ Under the Modi government, the commanding position of our security agencies against terrorism is quite visible,” Shah said. The Union government is initiating legal reforms, he said. “A new bill for identification of prisoners has just been passed by Parliament, it is yet to be implemented.
The Model Jail Act has been sent, it has to be implemented. Regulations have been enacted for strict compliance of FCRA. We are also bringing reforms in Cr PC, IPC and Evidence Act,” he said.
