Date:02/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/02/stories/2007070253340300.htm

Kerala - Thrissur

Home Minister forecasts hi-tech crime-busting

Staff Reporter

Top priority to modernising canine squads

Thrissur: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that setting up of a cyber police station and rapid computerisation of police stations across the State will usher in a new era of hi-tech crime-busting.

He was addressing a meeting at the Kerala Police Academy in Ramavarmapuram here on Sunday to inaugurate the headquarters of the Kerala Police Dog Squad and a State police dog training school.

“Criminals use sophisticated and advanced tools. Hence, the police should constantly revise its crime-busting methods and modernise equipment,” Mr. Balakrishnan said. He added that the Government gave top priority to modernising canine squads as dogs played a major role in modern crime investigation and narcotic/bomb detection.

“Dog squads in the State will be more effective with the setting up of the central canine training school at Ramavarmapuram,” he said.

Earlier, the Home Minister inspected a pack of Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds kept at the training school. The canine training school has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 57.65 lakhs.

Therambil Ramakrishnan, MLA, presided. District Panchayat President K. Sreekumar, Corporation Councillor V. K. Suresh Kumar, Additional DGP (Intelligence) Jacob Punnoose, P. Vijayanand, IGP, Thrissur Range, Alexander Jacob, IGP (Training) and Director of the Police Academy, Vinson M. Paul, were present on the occasion.