Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday highlighted the key role played by beat constables in busting terror modules and networks and said traditional means of collecting intelligence inputs had gone into disuse.

“The role of a vigilant and effective beat constable can be proactive in checking the activities of networks that otherwise operate under the radar,” Manmohan Singh said while addressing directors general and inspectors general of police here.

Noting that India had, over the past few years, learnt lessons in dealing with multiple security challeges, the prime minister said the nation’s capabilities in gathering human intelligence needed improvement.

“The grassroot information and intelligence collection systems that have traditionally been a part of policing, have languished and fallen into disuse in some places,” he lamented.

“Some orientation in the (police) functioning at these cutting-edge level is necessary and the role of community policing should also be emphasised,” he said.

Touching on the problem of manpower shortage in the police forces, Manmohan Singh said the government had tried to address it on a war-footing.

“At the meeting of the National Integration Council last week, the need for a well-trained and well-equipped force to deal with the riots was underscored. The Rapid Action Force has been discharging such a role with distinction.

“I would like the conference to consider ways and means of scaling up the availability of such trained personnel and formation in the state police forces,” he said.

The prime minister also noted that security forces had to sometimes perforce serve in unfamiliar areas, far away from their homes.

“They don’t have adequate understanding of local sensitivities and sometimes of the language as well. These can be vital handicaps in earning the trust and confidence of the local community. I understand a number of steps have already been taken in this direction, but more needs to be done,” he added.