Government making borders ‘impregnable’: Shah

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said the government was working on a comprehensive modernisation programme to prepare the country’s police and paramilitary forces for newer challenges in terrorism, cyber crime and border security.

Shah laid a wreath at the National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri to pay homage to the slain policemen and addressed a joint column of police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day.

The day is observed to pay homage to 10 policemen (of the CRPF) killed in an ambush by Chinese troops in 1959 in Ladakh’s Hot Spring area. Armies of both countries are currently locked in a military standoff in the Ladakh area.

“The work of police is witnessing new challenges and dimensions in the areas of terrorism, fake currency, narcotics control, cyber crime, arms smuggling and human trafficking. It is a challenge to prepare the police forces for the new dimensions that have emerged in the last two-three decades,” the minister said.

“I am hopeful that in the coming days, the Modi government will prepare them to meet these challenges,” he added. “The government is bringing in technology to make the country’s borders “impregnable”. Technology and promptness of troops “will go hand-in-hand and we will be able to better secure our frontiers”, he said. Lauding the police personnel for ensuring internal and border security in the country with their vigilance, Shah said the government was “going to do many things” so that the deficiency in availability of police personnel per 1 lakh population was addressed.

Remembering the 343 personnel, who were killed due to Covid-19, the minister said these officials continued to help people, donate blood and plasma. A total of 35,398 police and CAPF personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty till now, with 264 making the supreme sacrifice in the past year.

Pays tribute to bravehearts

• A total of 35,398 police and CAPF personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty till now, with 264 making the supreme sacrifice in the past year.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah also remembered the 343 personnel who died due to Covid-19, saying said the police personnel continued to render their duty to help people and donated blood and plasma to patients despite the raging pandemic.