Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned the country that focusing on external aggression reduces awareness and focus on internal security which is far more dangerous because of the number of threats and causes and the effort that is required to defeat them. Internal security did not emanate from a single source or state and is not localized and would take improved coordination, cooperation, and adoption of best practices and technologies in a uniform manner to meet these challenges.
Addressing the 58th batch of Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers (included 4 from Bhutan and 3 from Maldives ), Singh characterized terrorism as a “hydra-headed monster” with “several strains” presenting the “most dangerous threat” to India as the perpetrators have “trans-national linkages and adequate resources.” He called for “determination” steeped in “knowledge” to “succeed against these elements.” Further, a local issue assumes an international flavor and in other cases international terror techniques to solve a local issue. Singh counseled the candidates to understand the nuances of the situation wherever they may be posted—North East, Jammu & Kashmir, states experiencing Naxalism, etc and wanted them to handle the issues sensitively.
Singh says that the rapid development of the nation will bring several polarizing issues to the fore such as spread of wealth, opportunities, caste-based violence, and atrocities by armed groups on weaker sections. He was careful to highlight different kinds of white-collared mafia organizations in cities often with the support of political organizations to say that policing does not include only fighting those armed with weapons and in forests but also those who cheat the nation through control and financial manipulation.
Finally, Singh highlighted the need for a massive change in the image of the police from a repressive force that uses lower-level staff as menial labor to a professional organization capable of performing a multitude of tasks. These would include ability to control crowds, manage riots, fight terrorism, check white-collar crimes, incorporate world-class investigative practices, and finally provide security to the weak and the disenfranchised.