Definition of crime has changed: DGP Anjani Kumar

Hyderabad: Policing is not just an institution with rules, regulations and discipline but has to be like a parent tending to the children, teaching them the virtues of discipline in the growing up years, observed Director General of Police Anjani Kumar.

He was speaking on “Policing in a Changing Society: Challenges at Various Levels” during the fourth oration marking the birth centenary of Prof. S. Venugopal Rao at the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) here on Friday.

Speaking about the challenges faced by the police department, Anjani Kumar said that there have been challenges in terms of border security, coastal security, internal security, financial crimes, drugs, Islamic fundamentalism and ethnic violence like in Manipur. Presently, policing is shifting from ‘cycle patrol to cyber patrol’ with the rapid digitisation and the vastness of cyberspace.

“The entire definition of crime has changed now. The jurisdiction and territory in terms of regular crimes have vanished. The jurisdiction has gone beyond the national borders,” he said.

The top cop said that the society as a whole is a bigger policeman than the police department and the parenting aspect has to be distinctly predominant.

“Anxiety, stress and fear of failures are natural responses to any external factors. How one responds to such feelings is what makes a person a better leader and that is what is required now. One bad chapter in life does not mean the story is over,” he said.

Earlier he threw light on scams like the Harshad Mehta scam, Telgi’s stamp paper scam, attack on Parliament and the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, each of which exposed the lack of preparedness of the police and the criminal justice system.

“Sometimes we are the problem and to identify the problem within us is another major challenge. It is only after rectifying the internal problems and setting our house in order, can we set things right outside,” he added.

Likening retired IAS officer K. Padmanabhaiah and Prof. Venugopal Rao to Jain Tirthankaras, he said that they had achieved everything in their lives but were still in the midst of people to help them cross oceans and overcome challenges.

Meanwhile, Padmanabhaiah, in his inaugural address, appreciated the manner the Telangana police department was the trail-blazer across various fronts and how the state government has given priority to the rule of law and not just to the law and order situation.