'Country lagged behind in internal security apparatus'

Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there was a need for reforms in the internal security apparatus after Independence, but the country lagged behind in this area.

Addressing the first convocation of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) at Lavad in Gandhinagar district, he said during British rule internal security revolved around instilling fear among the masses, which needed to be changed.

After Independence, there was a need for reforms, but unfortunately sufficient work was not done in this direction and we lagged behind," he said.

"Even now, the perception about police is that one should stay away from them...," the prime minister said.

More than increasing the number of personnel, what was needed was trained officials who understand technology, human psyche, know how to communicate with the young generation and deal with the leaders of mass agitations, the prime minister said.

Due to the lack of trained manpower, security forces lose the capacity for "negotiation" and "things go wrong at the last moment, sometimes due to a few words," he said.

Police and other security personnel should be able to deal strongly with anti-social elements and softly with society and instill "a sense of friendship and confidence among people", he said.

This would require a change in training modules and that was why Rashtriya Raksha University was set up, the prime minister added.

Modi also noted that police personnel find it hard to deal with stress due to the shrinking of traditional support networks like joint families, and said there is a need for experts, including Yoga teachers, who can help them fight stress

and relax.

Technology was important for the security forces but its use also needs proper training, Modi said.

"The sphere of security is not only about the morning parade and physical fitness. (Even) A divyang person, who is physically unfit, can still contribute to security through mental training,"

the PM added.

He also called for regular interaction between various institutions located in Gandhinagar such as National Forensic Sciences University, Gujarat National Law University

and RRU.