Modi bats for SMART policing, stronger intelligence gathering

Also highlights the need to honour the 33,000 police personnel martyred in the country after Independence

Pitching for 'SMART' policing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said intelligence gathering is the most vital aspect of the security essentials of the country which must honour its police martyrs and ensure welfare of police personnel.

The Prime Minister stressed that security of the nation does not depend on arms but on intelligence gathering.

Quoting Chanakya, the Prime Minister said, "Security of a nation does not depend on arms, how much arms are there or on the number of people using them. But depends more on intelligence gathering".

"If intellegence gathering is strong than arms, armed men and use of arms do not become primary.Intelligence gathering is the most vital aspect of the security essentials. The nation which has the best intelligence is the strongest", Modi said at the 49th annual conference of DGPs hosted by the Intelligence Bureau.

The Prime Minister said he wanted a force which takes care of the country's law and order in an efficient manner.

"By 'SMART' policing, I mean S for strict but sensitive, M for modern and mobile, A for alert and accountable, R for reliable and responsive and T for techno-savvy and trained", Modi said.

The police force should inculcate these values to ensure best policing which will go a long way in bringing about a new awakening and consciousness, improve its image and work culture, he said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the need to honour the 33,000 police personnel martyred in the country after Independence as "this was not a small thing.They sacrificed for the country and the citizens security and peace. Their sacrifice while on duty should not go unrecognised".

"The question of citizens knowing the police men's sacrifice does not arise.The police itself does not know who these martyrs are", Modi pointed out.