Dedicated police force can combat extremism: Kalam

President A P J Abdul Kalam on Friday proposed the setting up of a dedicated police force to fight low intensity warfare that will be equipped with sophisticated gadgetry to combat terrorism and extremism.

"In order to contain terrorism, the police force will have to create a new cadre trained in low intensity warfare and equipped with state of the art technologies," he said while inaugurating an international seminar on 'Criminal Justice System under Stress: Transnational Perspective.'

Noting that terrorists were using the latest technologies in their disruptive activities, Kalam, the supreme commander of the armed forces, said that very conscious police personnel, using a combination of human intelligence and connectivity across police forces in many states, is the need of the hour.

Such a modern police force can effectively contribute to the eradication of terrorism and extremism, he said. Kalam said the country will have to use innovative tools like mutual legal assistance treaties with other nations 'to ensure that organised criminals do not defeat the law enforcement process by taking advantage of crossing national boundaries and evading prosecution.'

Observing that suggestions made by committees and commissions set up to propose law reforms are yet to be taken up for discussion, he said: "The recommendations made by bodies of legal experts need to be acted upon in a timely manner before they lose their relevance."

Kalam said legal reforms like witness protection, concealing the identity of witnesses, compounding of offences and suitable protection to judges would go a long way in reducing the stress on the criminal justice system.

Noting that the crime rate in the country was increasing and the decision-making process in cases was slow, Kalam said, "If we can adopt the principle of compounding of offences as the settlement of certain cases, I am sure many petty cases will get resolved."

For clearing the pendency of cases, he suggested the military model could be adopted where trials take place on a day-to-day basis and adjournments are usually not allowed.

"For effective control, we need the right type of detection machinery, control mechanisms, judicial systems and the law," he said.

Every citizen, every group, every religion and every political and executive system should allow the law to function without interference, Kalam said.

He asked legal experts gathered for the seminar to suggest suitable regulatory and monitoring mechanisms that will safeguard the interests of Indian citizens working across the world.

The President also asked delegates to consider an innovative mechanism for preventing trans-national crimes against India and suggest a unique solution compatible to the country's societal conditions.

Pointing out that new problems are arising out of trade competition and corporate mergers and takeovers, Kalam said, "Laws must protect indigenous technologies and trade to the extent they impact people's living and their welfare as well as ensure national interest."