Police can’t be brute force, says Rajnath

The 21st century police cannot be a “brute force” but will have to be a “civilised” unit, home minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday and asked the police personnel to be patient in dealing with challenging situations such as riots and protests.

The minister also urged the police forces, both under the Centre and the states, to use new technology and psychological solutions to “control and divert the minds” of the rampaging crowds during a protest or in a riots-like situation.

Mr Singh made the remarks while addressing the personnel of the blue dungaree-donning Rapid Action Force (RAF) at their base here on the occasion of their silver jubilee (25th) anniversary.

Mr Singh urged the security personnel to keep an effective check on the incidents in which attempts are made to break the country on the lines of casteism, religion or regionalism.

“The police of the 21st century cannot be a brute force. It will have to be a civilised force. Patience and control has to be practised and followed by police forces and the personnel on ground while dealing with hard and challenging situations like riots and protesting crowds.

“I understand sometimes police forces have to use slight force, but in such situations too, prudence is required,” he said.

Mr Singh said he has already asked the Bureau of Police Research and Development to look for “less-lethal” solutions to be used in policing tasks and crowd control.

The head of the country's internal security mechanism asked the forces to apply “minimum force” and obtain maximum results. — PTI