Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges police forces to focus on cybersecurity

On 8 January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told police and security agencies that "highest priority" should be given to dealing with cybersecurity threats and technology which could be used to pinpoint problem areas of radicalisation of youth.[caption id="attachment_4291941" align="alignleft" width="380"] File image of Narendra Modi. AP[/caption]"Cybersecurity issues should be dealt with immediately, and should receive the highest priority," he said addressing the valedictory ceremony at the conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police at the BSF Academy here.The Prime Minister mentioned about the importance of the social media in this context and spoke about the emerging global consensus towards greater information sharing on illicit financial dealings."India had a key role to play in achieving this. Just as openness is getting increased acceptance worldwide, there is a need for greater openness among states too, on security issues."He said security could not be achieved selectively or alone. "But the breaking of silos and information sharing among states can help make everyone more secure. We are not an assembled entity, but an organic entity."The Prime Minister recalled how the nature and scope of the annual conference have changed since 2014 when he suggested that the yearly affair should be shifted out of Delhi. This annual conference is an event where top police officers share and discuss security-related issues.The conference was held in Guwahati in 2014, Gujarat's Rann of Kutch in 2015 and at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad in 2016."The conference has now become more relevant in the context of challenges and responsibilities facing the country," Modi said.He commended the country's security apparatus and said there was a lot of cohesion in managing the country's security.The Prime Minister also presented President's Police Medals for distinguished service to IB officers.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Ministers of State for Home Hansraj Ahir and Kiren Rijiju also attended the conference.