Call to attack sources of terror

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, OCT. 31. The Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant, has called for a frontal attack on the sources of terror. More than a typical law and order response was necessary to tackle the phenomenon of terrorism, he said in his address to the 53rd batch of IPS officer trainees after reviewing the Dikshant Parade at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Police Academy here on Wednesday.

``As police officers, you shall be the primary instruments of State power, which is now under a comprehensive threat from militants and terrorists. Many of the terrorist groups were armed with sophisticated equipment and weapons and were flush with resources and funds and operated through large, intricate and sinister transnational networks,'' he warned.

``At some stage in your career, you shall be called upon to deal with these merchants of terror. Nothing short of a frontal attack at the sources of terror will be necessary,'' he told the cadets.

Mr. Kant wanted the cadets to remember that the average citizen can become their principal ally in fighting crime, small or big. The police were more feared than loved by the citizens as there was a perception in the public mind that police unleashed their own brand of violence under the pretext of combating it.

He said factional rivalries were well-known parts of the social landscape in several places in India. Whenever the rivalries erupted in violence, only the poor suffered, went to jail and even to the gallows. Their leaders went scot-free and cooly proceeded to recruit new poor-henchmen for their next encounter.

In his welcome address, the Director, Mr. M.K. Shukla said the academy, being the alma mater of all the IPS officers, had provided an electronic messaging facility to all its serving members last month. It now boasted the most modern training complex and state-of-the-art Information Technology Centre.

( Pic. Caption: Ms. Laxmi Singh, first woman IPS officer trainee to command the passing out parade at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad by virtue of her all-round performance, is seen with the Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant, who reviewed the parade. Ms. Singh won the Prime Minister's Baton and Home Ministry's revolver on being adjudged the best all-round trainee officer of the 53rd batch. A native of Uttar Pradesh, her services have been earmarked for West Bengal. - Photo: Mohd Yousuf )

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