From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sep 6: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has directed the State police top brass to create a separate technical wing to check economic and cyber crimes.

Addressing the meeting of the senior police officers convened at the office of the State Director General of Police in Bengaluru on Monday, the Chief Minister wanted the internal security division (ISD) and establishment of National Defence Academy model training centre to provide training to all middle-level officers besides purchase of high speed boats for effective surveillance of the coastal region.

Upgrading the Fire Force besides revamping the Intelligence and Corps of Detectives (COD) divisions and technically upgrading them in tune with the changing situation in maintaining law and order and crime control as well as detection, he said.

The Chief Minister made it clear that his government will not compromise in maintaining law and order as well as crime control in the State and asked the State police force to maintain its record and legacy of being stern and impartial in order to function as a people-friendly law enforcement machinery.

Bommai noted that he was happy to learn that the senior police officers conference was being convened for the first time after several years, which is a good development and must be continued with periodic interactions so as to enable all police officers to know each other and keep themselves abreast of the latest developments.

The Chief Minister, with his rich experience in politics and a former Home Minister himself, had some piece of advice to the police officers: Police should not collude with criminals and work honestly without joining hands real estate mafia or becoming part of it. More importantly, he asked the police to behave and treat the public and their subordinates with respect and be courteous besides maintaining control over the language they use.

Bommai noted with satisfaction that lot of improvements have taken place in the department during the last two years with new and better facilities plus amenities. More recruitments and housing facilities have also been provided.

He wanted the police officers to ensure that the crime registers and records must be maintained well and the reporting must be done properly at all levels with close and strict monitoring by the senior officers, so that public trust and confidence in the police establishment improves.

The Chief Minister asked the police officers starting with the DGP to all district Superintendents of Police and other senior officers to create their own dashboards which should have latest information on all developments within their jurisdiction, including crime statistics and the action taken.

He appreciated that the State police have succeeded in controlling the drugs mafia and ensure that the government’s policy of zero tolerance to drugs, gambling and sand mafia as well as other kinds of organized crimes.

“Crime control and societal well-being as well as law and order enforcement are closely inter-linked and only when the police force functions effectively, the chain will be broken and people will be happy,’’ he said promising that the government will continue to support and strengthen the police force.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said anti-national activities must be nipped in the bud and such anti-social elements must not be allowed to grow with crime control measures and monitoring done in all districts.

A coffee table book on the State police and a booklet on the compensations and facilities provided to departmental staff while in service were released. A facial recognition system to identify persons with criminal background was also launched.

Apart from DGP Praveen Sood, Chief Secretary P Ravikumar, Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Rajneesh Goel, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Manjunath Prasad and other senior police officers attended the conference.