Security challenges shift from geographic to thematic, says Amit Shah

Amit Shah speaks at convening of IPS probationers in Hyderabad

Hyderabad:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, noting that the security situation is shifting from geographical to thematic, highlighted multidimensional policing yesterday and said the police force must be accessible, accountable and approachable.

Addressing the convocation of the 74th batch of Indian Police trainees at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here, the Home Minister said no country can be great without good law and order and impregnable internal security.

The Minister of the Interior paid tribute to the 36,000 police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country’s internal security at the Martyrs’ Memorial.

Attended the Closing Ceremony of Batch 74 RR IPS at National Police Academy, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Hyderabad.

I am confident that these officers will set an excellent example for national security in an ever-changing security landscape. pic.twitter.com/dTlgyJpx7d

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 11, 2023

In his speech, Amit Shah said that joining the great tradition of IPS, this batch of 74 RR trainee officers will be known as the Amrit Kaal batch.

He said that in the past 70 years, China has experienced many ups and downs in the security field and faced many challenges.

He said that at the time of founding the college, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had stated that the college would serve as an inspirational example for future generations.

The minister said the goals set for the academy by the country’s first federal home minister had been well achieved over the past 75 years.

A total of 195 officer cadets received basic course training at the academy, including 41 female officers and 29 officer cadets from Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Mauritius.

PM lays foundation of great India today @narendramodi Police officers who graduate from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy will have to ensure the internal security of the new India. I have no doubt that they will increase confidence in justice. pic.twitter.com/ibBVu1dtZS

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 11, 2023

Most of the trainees have completed basic training in technical fields, he said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had established the “Police Technology Mission” to address future challenges and empowered all police agencies in the country to address global technological challenges from a technological perspective.

Mr Shah said the mission would not only equip the entire police system from constables to the DGP to meet technological challenges but also make them tech-savvy. The Police Technology Mission will bring all police agencies across the country together to address global technology challenges from a technology standpoint.

He said Prime Minister Modi had set a goal for the people of the country that the country should stand out globally in various fields as we celebrate the centenary of independence in 2047.

“Achieving this goal is both the duty and duty of every Indian citizen. The IPS trainee officers present here have a special responsibility because no country can be great without good law and order and impenetrable internal security.”

Protection of the rights of the most vulnerable citizens, systemic sensitivity and a police system that can withstand all challenges are fundamental elements that lay the foundations of a developed country, he added.

The effort, he said, is to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2025 and ensure India becomes a fully developed country by 2047.

“This goal is absolutely achievable because in 2014 we were 11th in the world economic ranking and in just eight years we have reached fifth.”

According to Morgan Stanley estimates, India will become the world’s third largest economy by 2027, he said.

Amit Shah said the trainee officers passed out today after imbibing the country’s constitution and its spirit.

They must be able to recognize that three institutions are essential in a constitutional system. The first is the citizens, who vote once and elect a system of governance for a five-year term; the second is a government elected by the citizens for a five-year term, and the third is a chosen bureaucracy that serves the country for 30 to 35 years.

He said that the citizen has the right to vote once in five years, the people who get elected work for the development of the country for five years and later have to go back to the public to seek mandate, but the selected officers in the All Indian service has the right to serve the country selflessly for 30-35 years.

Mr Shah said the next 25 years are crucial for India as it helps to realize the dream of a great India envisioned by the freedom fighters.

Terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgencies in the northeast and rising violence in left-wing extremist areas were the three major challenges before us when we assessed the domestic security situation eight years ago, he said.

Now, eight years later, the government has largely succeeded in addressing all three challenges, he said.

The minister said terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir had decreased significantly after the abolition of Article 370.

More than 8,000 cadres have returned to the mainstream through the signing of peace agreements with many rebel groups in the northeast, he added.

By filling the security vacuum and cracking down on top Maoist leadership, the number of areas affected by left-wing extremism has been drastically reduced, he said.

Mr Shah said India had shown the world a success story by banning PFI.

He said central authorities and police in states across the country had successfully taken down organizations like PFI in one day of successful operations. “It shows the maturity and strength of our democracy,” he said.

Mr Shah said the reduction in terrorist incidents across the country under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership was mainly due to the “zero tolerance” policy on terrorism, a strong legal framework against terrorism, empowerment of all institutions and strong political will.

“Our agency’s global engagement is also growing. The holding of the INTERPOL General Assembly in India and India’s leadership in counter-terrorism and financial ‘No Money for Terror’ conferences symbolize the global acceptance of our security agencies Spend”.

He said India is trying to fill the gap in human resources and logistics for experts in the field of forensic science by establishing a university of forensic science.

The Union Home Minister and Co-operation Minister said the security situation was changing from geographical to thematic and multi-dimensional policing must be embraced rather than unidimensional.

“Instead of geographic threats such as northeast rebellion, left-wing extremism, and community hotspots, there are now thematic threats such as cybercrime, data misuse, and misinformation that need to be dealt with resolutely,” he said.

“Earlier, we faced the challenges of terrorism, extremism and day-to-day policing, but now we face multifaceted challenges such as terror financing, drug terror, fourth-generation information warfare. Our police force has to do well Preparedness to meet these challenges,” he added.

Authorities will devise a new approach to address the challenge and strengthen policing, he said.

“Our focus should be on security at the heart of the nation’s economy, human rights protection for the poor, evidence-based investigation, evidence-based forensic science, and the fight against the terrorist nexus of drug, online, and financial fraud.”

Mr Shah said the police force must be accessible, accountable and approachable.

Accessibility implies a balance of knowledge, skills and methods. “We must set an example for responsible policing by drawing fresh energy and confidence within us and becoming approachable.”

Police forces must understand the local language, geography and culture before they can address policing issues, he added.

He said the soul of the constitution is citizens and their rights, and the police must interpret all the provisions of the constitution and laws and put this goal first.

Officer trainees will have to move forward by balancing their professional and personal lives.

Officials will need to earn the trust of citizens and preserve their humanity.

Mr Shah said these officers had a responsibility to ensure the welfare of those working in the field in stressful situations, improve welfare measures, sensitize them, build police capacity and ensure their methods met global standards.

The Union home minister said that based on three principles – awareness, preparedness and enforcement – the police technical mission would move forward.

He called on all officer cadets to be part of this mission and strengthen it.

He pointed out that as the head of the police force, it is very important for police officers not to succumb to pressure, to take precautions, to stay away from fame and fortune, and to understand the rights and feelings of people at the grassroots level.

Mr Shah said all the officials not only went out as IPS officers but also shouldered the responsibility of laying the foundation for the next 25 years of the country’s centenary of independence.