Singh underlined at an annual conference of state directors general and inspectors general of police which was also attended by seniormost intelligence officers, the security threats faced by India including increase in communal incidents, cyber threat and danger of infiltration of terrorists from land and sea.
Voicing concern over the revival of ethnic disturbances in the northeast, he said the capacity of the administrative set-up to check such deterioration seems to have weakened.
"The erosion in inter-community relations is something that should worry us all. The capacity of the administrative set-up to check such deterioration seems to have weakened. This would be true of the police administration as well.
"There is, therefore, a case for re-orienting our police forces to effectively track the sentiments of the people and inter-community tensions as they rise," he said at the concluding day of a three-day conference organised by the Intelligence Bureau.
Calling for marginalising of "overtly intolerant and aggressive" elements of the society before deterioration of situation, Singh urged them to make advance identification of potential trouble makers, timely use of preventive sections of the law, besides seeking cooperation of the community for maintaining peace.
"It is particularly important to obtain assistance of saner elements of the society to marginalise those who are overtly intolerant and aggressive.
Stressing on the role of beat constable, Singh said "We must train our police personnel to develop these soft skills. The grassroots information and intelligence collection systems that have traditionally been a part of policing have languished in some places.
"The role of a vigilant and effective beat constable can be vital in detecting communal tensions. I hope you would pay adequate attention to these aspects of policing," the Prime Minister said. (MORE)
