Resort to "just action" instead of no action or extreme action: Shah to police

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that police should resort to "just action" as they get defamed for either "no action" or "extreme action". Shah was addressing a function after laying the foundation stone for the Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Sciences.

"I often say that police get defamed due to two reasons -- one is no action, and the second is extreme action. No action is not right as indolence cannot rectify the law and order system. And extreme is also not correct as it triggers reaction. So, the police should come out of no action and extreme action, and move in the direction of just action," he said. He added that the institute, together with the National Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar, would help the police move forth with "natural action".

"Today policing is not confined to what was imagined 20 years ago, be it counterfeit notes, narcotics, narco-terror, cyber crime or cow smuggling. The day is not far when every district in UP will have a mobile forensic van, and there will be regional FSLs (forensic sciences laboratories)," he said. He added that the utilisation of FSL would be made compulsory for conviction in crimes that warrant a punishment of over six years.

"Today, the seeds of the UP State Institute of Forensic Sciences have been sown. Once it becomes a banyan tree, a number of children will make their career from here, they will take part in research and will prove to be the backbone of the country's law and order. When (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji was the chief minister (of Gujarat), he had established the first-of-its-kind forensic sciences university in Gandhinagar. The Government of India has approved ₹ 15 crore for establishment of a DNA centre here," he noted, while also claiming that the institute will prove to be a milestone in the modernisation of the police forces.

Shah further claimed that half of the states in the country would have a forensic science college by 2024. "Though law and order is a state subject, the Centre is taking some initiatives so that the law and order of the country can be strengthened. Many colleges in the country are going to start after taking affiliation from the National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar. By 2024, half of the states in the country will have forensic science colleges," he said.

Referring to the low conviction rate in the country as compared to Israel, he said, "The rate of conviction in the country is very low. In some countries like Israel, it has been taken to 90 per cent. India is lagging behind, and the main reason is lack of professional education." The forensic university will help in conviction and, therefore, punishment. "When there will be punishment...the crime rate will automatically come down," he added.