'States need help in strengthening police'

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, FEB. 22. Realising that organisations such as the People's War Group, mafia gangs and the ISI units are posing serious threats to nation's solidarity, the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, said here today that the vigilance wing of Police Department should be strengthened to meet exigencies. The Union Government should help the States which were facing threats from such organisations.

Mr. Krishna told presspersons that there was a need to educate the people in border areas. Admitting that the police force was short- staffed and that its numbers did not match the rise in population, he said that police personnel should be equipped with modern and sophisticated gadgets to counter the activities of terrorist organisations.

Mr. Krishna pointed out that the State Government had approached the Centre for assistance in modernising the police force. However, following no positive response, ``I have decided to meet the Union Home Minister shortly to impress upon him the imminent need to set right the inadequacies that confront the State police force.''

Referring to the killing of the Karwar MLA, Vasanth Asnotikar, he said that initial investigation had revealed that a sophisticated weapon had been used in the murder. When terrorists had equipped themselves with modern weapons, the intelligence wing of the Police Department should also equip itself suitably.

However, the Chief Minister added that despite certain inadequacies, the intelligence wing was maintaining a vigil over suspects. Since the nature of threats varied from region to region within the State, the Centre must accord priority to assist State governments to make their police forces more effective, he added.

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Section  : Regional
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