Chidambaram Emphasizes Importance Of Technology & Innovation To Combat Terrorism

[jayanthi mandhalapu]

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has emphasized on the deployment of technology and innovation by police agencies to combat the current–age terrorist attacks.

"This conference must mark the beginning of a process of reinventing the security system in the country. We must learn from our past mistakes. We must also learn from the experience of other countries," said Chidambaram. He was addressing the three-day conference of police which is being held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. "It is the neglect of tried and tested methods that has led us to a situation where we seemed unequal to the challenges that face the internal security of the country," Chidambaram said.

"However, it is not enough to walk with firm steps on the path that is known. We must also lay out a path forward that will draw heavily upon technology and innovation", added the home minister. He has mentioned the two ambitious central government projects for combating terrorism – the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) and the National Grid (NATGRID). He told that the once these projects are implemented, the police will be able to defy the attacks in a better fashion.

The CCTNS, for which an initial investment of Rs. 20 billion has been made, is meant for developing a completely integrated system which will boost the efficiency and effectiveness of policing via the adoption of e-governance principles. A networked infrastructure spread across the nation can be developed which will enable the state-of-the-art tracking system to keep in track with the investigation of crime and detection of criminals.

Chidambaram has expressed his desire to come up with a replica of New York's National Counter Terrorism Centre. He has also called for the expanding the span of New York's National Counter Terrorism Centre. "There is the need to enact a model police Act. Mega-city policing is a new requirement, and there is much to learn from the experiences of other mega-cities. I wish to sharply upgrade our Forensic Science Laboratories and make them among the best in the world."

"Prison reform is also on my agenda," he said. He has asked the police to come up with novel ideas as well s suggestions, provide people with more security and make India safer for the residents as well as the visitors.