Both gun-toting & pen-wielding Naxals must be defeated, says PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emphasised the need to root out terror networks from Indian soil by “defeating all forms of Naxalism whether it be gun-toting or pen wielding.”

Addressing via video conferencing the Chintan Shivir of home ministers of states being held at Surajkund in Haryana the PM said, “In the past few years, all governments have acted responsibly to demolish the ground network of terror…We need to handle it by combining our forces. We will have to defeat all forms of Naxalism – be it gun-toting or pen-wielding, we will have to find a solution for all of them.”

Emphasising on the need to create more awareness about the danger of  fake news, PM Modi said, “For the safety and rights of law-abiding citizens, stringent action against negative forces is our responsibility. A small piece of fake news can kick up a storm across the nation…We will have to educate people to think before forwarding anything and verifying information before believing it.”

He said people must be made aware of mechanisms to verify messages before forwarding them.

Highlighting the importance of advanced technologies in combating crime, PM Modi said the agencies have to be 10 steps ahead of the crime world.

“Today the nature of crimes is changing. We need to understand the new age technologies. We entered the 5G era. Hence we need to be more vigilant,” he explained.

With 5G technology, PM said there will be manifold improvement in facial recognition technology, automatic number plate recognition technology, drone and CCTV technology.

“With the advancement in 5G technology, awareness is equally important. It has to be ensured that India’s law and order system becomes smart. Technology not only helps in the prevention of crimes but also in crime investigation. We will have to be 10 steps ahead of the crime world,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also said there is a need to have a positive perspective. He called for improved synergy among police stations with cooperation, rapport and a streamlined mechanism.

In order to improve the efficiency of the police and strengthen law and order, The Prime Minister said the interconnectedness between the police of different states is an important aspect.

He said, “Law and order is not restricted to one state now. Crime is turning interstate and international. With technology, criminals now have increased their power to commit crimes. Criminals beyond the border are misusing technology. Be it cybercrime or the usage of drone technology for the smuggling of weapons or drugs, we will have to keep working on new technology for them.”

The coordination between agencies of all states and between central and state agencies is essential, PM Modi pointed out.

This Chintan Shivir of home ministers in Surajkund is an excellent example of cooperative federalism. The states can learn from each other, take inspiration from each other and work together for the betterment of the country, he added.

Home Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) of the States and Directors General of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are also attending the Chintan Shivir.

According to a PMO statement, the Chintan Shivir of Home Ministers is an endeavour to provide a national perspective to policy formulation on internal security-related matters. The Shivir, in the spirit of cooperative federalism, will bring more synergy in planning and coordination between various stakeholders at the centre and state levels.

The Shivir will deliberate on issues like modernization of police forces, cybercrime management, increased use of IT in the criminal justice system, land border management, coastal security, women safety and drug trafficking, the statement added.