Expressing disappointment that the police sometimes fail to win adequate confidence in all sections of society, President Pranab Mukherjee has stressed that the 'Rule of Law', which is a cardinal principle on which a modern State rests, must be strictly enforced in a prompt, fair and equitable manner.
The President was addressing delegates of the annual conference of directors and inspectors generals of police from States and Union Territories, and heads of central police organisations when they called on him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday.
Mr. Mukherjee called upon leaders of police and security forces to transform the police system and to bring it in sync with the requirements of a modern democratic nation.
According to a statement issued by the President's Office, Mr. Mukherjee has asked police officials to ensure that the grievances of common people are addressed, and a peaceful and secure atmosphere, conducive to the nation's growth and prosperity is created in collaboration with the stakeholders.
"The President said the Police forces must strengthen external and internal communication to deal with the worrying increase in communal tensions. Communication with people has to be maintained and at the same time, communication within the organisation, right down to the beat level, must be improved. District and local administration must notice communal tensions in their initial stages and take necessary measures to contain them quickly," the statement read.
He also drew attention of the law enforcers towards the growing instances of crime against women and children.
"... Violence against these vulnerable groups of our population has to be dealt firmly. Effective policing of our urban areas, especially metropolitan cities, must be attended to with urgency," the statement further reads.
Mr. Mukherjee appreciated the police forces in the country for having acquitted themselves well, despite the challenges that they face in their functioning, and the constraints of manpower and logistics.
