By IANS,
Hyderabad: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Saturday said the police needed to equip themselves on par with their adversaries in the changing times.
“Policing is changing dramatically, it is changing every day. Your adversaries are numerous. New adversaries are emerging on the horizon every day,” he told trainee police officers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here.
As many as 134 police officers of 2010 batch passed out. They included 11 officers of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives.
Addressing the officers after reviewing the colourful parade, Chidambaram said like their adversaries they should also learn new methods, acquire new weapons and master new technologies.
“The adversaries train every day and remain fit, so must you. They forge new alliances among sections of society. You must forge new alliances in all sections of society,” the minister said.
Terming the police academy as a world-class institute, he said the government provided over Rs.200 crore during the last two years for improving facilities and infrastructure.
Four new courses on special laws, investigation, internal security and first aid were introduced during the last two years.
Chidambaram said: “The word police invokes a variety of emotions and responses among people. But imagine a state or country without police. Can there be a town, a city or block without a police station.”
The home minister reminded the trainee officers that becoming an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer is a rare honour.
“This honour is not given to all men and women. I have 123 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers before me and you were selected from over 100,000 aspirants. This is an honour you deserve and you earned but you must protect and cherish this over the next 37-38 years of your career,” he said.
Noting that four officers from Bhutan, four from Maldives and three from Nepal were among the batch, Chidambaram said India was always ready to work with these neighbours and friends.
He also congratulated 21 women police officers for passing out from the academy.
“You have once again proved your mettle and showed women can shoulder any responsibility alongside men in an accomplished way,” he said.