With Orissa facing law and order problems like Maoist onslaught, industrial violence and students unrest, chief minister Naveen Patnaik today asked the cops to tackle them with firmness, tact and patience.
"Timely action is the essence of maintaining law and order situation", Patnaik said in his address to the valedictory session of the 54th senior police conference here.
The chief minister said there should be close coordination between police and district administration. "I will expect the SPs to attend the grievances conducted by district collectors," he said.
Terming Left Wing extremism as the biggest challenge before the police, the chief minister who also holds the home portfolio, said the state government had taken up modernisation of weaponry on a large scale.
"I will request all of you to take this process forward within the shortest possible time so that we are prepared to face any eventuality in times to come," he said.
Stating that the police organisation should be modernised to deal with new crimes like cyber crimes, white collar crimes and narco-terrorism, the chief minister said the police officers should be technology savvy to detect the crimes.
Patnaik said with advancement in technology, intelligence had acquired utmost importance in controlling crimes.
"Intelligence will not only help in anticipating problems, but also in minimising harm to police force", the chief minister said.
Offering condolence to families of policemen who have laid down their lives, the chief minister asked senior police officers to personally monitor payment of compensation and other benefits to those families and treat them with honour that they deserved.
Orissa police which had a record for its respect to human rights, Patnaik said the quality should be upheld as basic responsibility of cops was to maintain peace, harmony and security of the society.
"I expect the police to respond to every situation with promtness, proficiency and impartiality", Patnaik said.
