42nd All India Police Science Congress gets underway in Gangtok

Sikkim has lowest Crime Rate in Country but worried about financial scams and fake currency – CM
CM urges Press to practice ethical journalism
SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 15 Feb: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling stressed that all the four pillars of democracy, all existing democratic institutions, fundamental rights and related infrastructures must exist for the good of the people and are the protective shields for security, integrity, sovereignty and all round development of our people. People must use them for a just cause and collective interest as these are not to be used to serve the narrow interest of few people bent upon destroying the strong democratic fabric of our country, he added.
The Chief Minister was addressing the inaugural function of the 42nd edition of All India Police Science Congress as the chief guest here at Chintan Bhawan today. The three-day event is being organized by the Sikkim Police under the aegis of Bureau of Police Research and Development [BPR&D], Ministry of Home Affairs.
More than 70 delegates of the rank of DGPs, ADGPs, IGPs, DIGs and SPs of state police forces of different states and senior officials from Central Para Military Forces, Intelligence Agencies, Military and Para-military Commanders and representatives from MHA are participating at the Police Science Congress.
This edition of the Police Science Congress has selected 12 themes and has received 44 papers from police officers and forensic experts. Themes for 42nd All India Police Congress include, Police Reforms, Officer Oriented Policing, 360 degree Performance Appraisal in Police, Police as a Facilitator to resolve Minor Disputes in the community, Comprehensive Training Police for Indian Police, Emerging Challenges to Cyber Security-Internet Monitoring with Specific reference to National Security, New and Emerging Technology in Police Investigation [including forensics], Police Leadership-Staying Connected in a Changing World, Developing Human Resources in Police- Emerging Trends and Policies, Technology as an aid to fight Left Wing Extremism/ Terrorism and Insurgency, Best Practices & Procedures to Ensure Integrity in Police and Ways and Means to strengthen Institutional Memory in Police Establishment.
In his inaugural address, the CM further highlighted that Sikkim has seen the lowest crime rates and the Sikkim Police has maintained excellent police-public partnership. On the same, he informed that the State government has framed a new law which prohibits the sale of liquor to minors in restaurants and hotels and which provides for severe punishment of imprisonment up to ten years to the defaulters. He further added that if necessary, the State may consider bringing in more stringent legislation to provide more teeth to the law enforcers to curb this evil.
“However, policing for future would require not only Sikkim Police, but all of us to deal with economic disparities, bio ethics, privacy issues, culture threats, human cloning, concepts like cyber crime and frauds and the disruption of peace in civic life based on these threats”, he stressed.
The CM also highlighted that one of the worrying trends in Sikkim has been mushrooming of fake financial companies luring innocent people into financial scams and illegal trading. He informed that bogus financial firms like TINA, Bharosha, Gemini Traders and Stock Guru India have fooled our people leading to gross monetary losses to them and further referred to the scam of printing fake currency notes few years back.
He congratulated Sikkim Police force for taking effective and swift action against many of the fake financial companies duly freezing their bank accounts of crores of rupees and stopping their operation. He further appreciated the efforts of the state police on fishing out the ULFA leader from his temporary hideout in Gangtok and for their ability to quickly and successfully bust fake currency scams in Sikkim.
He mentioned that the press fraternity has the crucial responsibility of establishing a connection with the common people vis-à-vis all the policies and programs of the government under the federal set up. On the same, he added that in a majority of cases, many people tend to misuse these rights and privileges bringing bad name to democratic institutions and discrediting existing laws. He stressed that ethics of journalism should be fully implemented as the press fraternity is equally responsible and answerable to the people and for the smooth functioning of a democratic State and Country.
The CM also mentioned that apart from some print media, people opposed to peace and wellbeing of the Sikkimese people are also committing cyber crime by posting fabricated news items to damage the good image of the State and are out on a misinformation campaign to create negative influence on our society. He added that in the name of democracy, they are acting in a most irresponsible manner with the malafide intention to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the State.
“This I find is the blatant case of misuse of modern communication system at the hands of bigots and reactionary forces. I would call for strict implementation of cyber laws”, he added.
The CM also expressed hope that themes adopted for this edition of the Congress would address the present intellectual as well as operational challenges. He further encouraged the delegates to find endless possibilities to identify and understand broad based security scenarios so that we remain forever prepared for the unexpected and for any eventuality.
BPR&D Director General, Vikram Srivastava mentioned that this prestigious event in the state will discuss, deliberate and present different important issues and its outcomes will help the Indian Police in future. He informed that the aim of the Congress was to promote research and development in various fields of police activities and also to encourage the development of a scientific and rational approach among the police organizations and inspire the police organizations to keep abreast with scientific and technological advances made in police methodology.
In his welcome address, DGP Sikkim Police, Jasbir Singh mentioned that this edition of the prestigious event has received a good participation of delegates from across the country. He expressed that themes selected for the science congress deal with important issues and reflects on the policing priorities for the coming years. He added that discussions and deliberations would help to generate action plans for the community.
The inaugural function concluded with the vote of thanks by the Organizing Secretary of the Science Congress, IGP, Akshay Sachdeva. On the occasion, the CM also released the Souvenir of the 42nd All India Police Science Congress.