New Delhi: Highlighting the need for smart policing, President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday called upon young police officers to cultivate a sense of commitment to serving citizens with sensitivity rather than a sense of superiority over them.
Addressing probationers of the Indian Police Service 78 RR (2025 batch) at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said that for the citizens, police officers and constables are symbols of governance. “People perceive the governance to be good when the police system functions well,” she said.
“People feel immensely supported when a police officer listens to their grievances with sensitivity and attentiveness,” said the President.
She urged the IPS officers to prioritise alleviating the fears of socially or economically weaker individuals who generally lack access to senior officials, and addressing their grievances.
The President stated that some of the employees in the system may be more proficient in the use of technology than the senior officers, said an official statement.
She advised the officer trainees not to hesitate to learn even from the most junior members of their team.
President Murmu urged them to encourage public participation and teamwork in their working style and prioritise the welfare of their team members to boost capabilities and enthusiasm.
The President stated that the police officers would derive a high level of authority from the laws and rules related to policing. However, they will earn real respect from the people, based on their performance and value system.
She said that they should have a sense of commitment to serving citizens rather than a sense of superiority over them.
The President said that spreading misinformation to trigger fear among the people is emerging as a serious issue. Impressionable minds, especially the youth, can be swayed by orchestrated disinformation.
Such orchestrated mischief can happen at local, regional, or even national levels. Smart policing can prevent such situations from getting too challenging and big, said Murmu.
The President said that cybercrimes are getting widespread and more serious. The police have to sensitise society more extensively about the gravity of cybercrimes.
She emphasised that the police officers should reorient their own approach towards such crimes.
Deep-fake content poses new threats to people, she said, urging police officers to always stay ahead of the criminals who use state-of-the-art technologies.
(IANS)
