Directors General of Police Conference

STATES SHOULD TRAIN SOME FORCES FOR COUNTERING TERRORISM, SAYS SHIVRAL PATIL in Conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police

The Union Home Minister has called upon the States to train some of their forces for countering terrorist activities. He was inaugurating the two-day conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police here today. Shri Shivraj Patil pointed out that the States which have trained their police for countering terrorist activities have achieved better results. Speaking at length about the measures required to be taken to counter terrorism, the Union Home Minister stressed the need for full and timely utilization of funds given by the Centre, filling up vacancies in the State police forces, preparation of plans to provide special security arrangements for cities, training of police forces in dealing with possible use of nuclear, biological and chemical devices, etc. by terrorists, appointment of a nodal officer in each State to ensure cooperation among States to control terrorism, and strengthening of special branches in the States. Emphasizing the need to adopt a multi-pronged approach to counter terrorism, Shri Patil said that the less-developed areas have to be better developed and injustice to any individual or section of the society has to be avoided. Drawing attention of the gathering to the inter-State dimension of terrorism, the Union Home Minster said that a central agency can be permitted to act in special kinds of cases. Ruling out the possibility of enacting a law like POTA, Shri Shivraj Patil said that if required, some provisions can be added to the existing laws to facilitate investigation of terrorism-related cases, but such provisions must not go against the basic principles of criminal justice system and human rights.

The Union Home Minister gave away the Police Medals for meritorious service to officers and men of the Intelligence Bureau on the occasion. Those present at the inaugural session included the Ministers of State for Home, Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Dr.Shakeel Ahmad and Ms. Radhika Selvi, National Security Advisor, Shri M.K.Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary, Shri K.M. Chandrasekhar, Union Home Secretary, Shri Madhukar Gupta, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Sh. P. C. Haldar and Chiefs of Central Police Forces.