Police to get digital maps of city soon

New Delhi - February 5, 2004 - The ambitious plan of the Delhi Police to cut down on PCR reaction time, is going to be a reality. The police will finally get their hands on digital maps of the capital prepared by the National Informatics Centre, and PCR vans all over the city can be located on the map - which is connected to a satellite and an individual set in each PCR van - helping the police deploy the PCR nearest to the spot of crime. Senior officials informed that the clearance to sensitive digital maps has been given by the ministry of defence. "It is the need of the hour when crimes like chain snatching and robberies outside banks are on the rise. Quicker PCR reaction helps in such situation," said a senior police official.

The Asian Age - February 6, 2004

Importance of Human Intelligence - Report by Timothy J. Burger, Massimo Calabresi, Mathew Cooper, Mark Thompson and Adam Zagorin/Washington

Kay's tale is a reminder that there is no substitute for on-the-ground human intelligence - the very kind that U.S. spymasters have lacked in Iraq and elsewhere for years. The U.S. overestimated the current WMD programme in Iraq, but it underestimated WMD operations in Iraq before the1991 war and, more recently, in Libya, Iran and perhaps North Korea. The shortfall in humint is everyone's fault. Administrations going back to the mid-1970s have favored more technical means of eavesdropping over sending spikes into danger. For years a bipartisan group of spooks and ex-spooks has advocated overhauling the U.S's massive, $35 billion-a-year intelligence bureaucracy and putting it under a single, all-powerful director, a scheme that has met with ferocious bureaucratic blockades. Kay noted last week that "closed orders and secret societies, whether they be religious or governmental, are the groups that have the hardest time reforming themselves in the face of failure without outside input."

Time - February 9, 2004.

Ulfa hiring goes corporate

Guwahati - February 9, 2004 - With the group's operations spreading across several countries, foreign trips are an added attraction for Ulfa. The Ulfa has entered the job market. Five arrested militants have revealed that the outfit has begun recruiting cadres in true corporate style, offering a fat pay packet and a slew of incentives. The salary structure is graded with extra benefits for hits. But there are pay cuts for misses or botched operations as well. Annual increments and perks come with promotions. "It seems very few people are willing to risk their lives fighting security forces without the assurance of a salary and security for their families," a police officer. "Perhaps, the Ulfa thought it was worth letting some of its huge funds - collected through extortion and stashed in foreign banks - trickle down to its cadres," a police officer said.

Hindustan Times- February 10, 2004.

'CRPF now a hi-tech force'

Nagpur - The CRPF is ready to tackle any form of nuclear, chemical or biological attack, inspector-general of police (western region) A.K. Mathur has said. "Necessary training is being provided to CRPF personnel and a battalion is being raised to handle disaster management," he said at the passing out parade of the 145th battalion on Thursday.

The Times of India - February 14, 2004.

Eight securitymen killed in landmine blast in West Bengal
Kolkata - February 25, 2004 - Eight security personnel were killed and four injured when a powerful landmine, suspected to have been planted by the People's War (PW), exploded at Golabari in the Belpahari area of West Bengal's West Midnapore district today. The Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, described the incident as the most devastating and reiterated his Government's determination to tackle the naxalite menace being fomented by militants sneaking into the State from Jharkhand. The jawans and police were returning from Kakrajhar where they had gone to assist in setting up a Border Security Force (BSF) camp.

The Hindu - February 26, 2004

Delhi Police Advisory

Citizens First - Your cooperation, our inspiration.

Taking efficiency to a higher level, Delhi Police offers prompt solution to your problem.

Now if you face any problem at any police station just fax or e-mail your grievances. For immediate redressal to:

You can also write to us at Post Box Number: 171 G.P.O., New Delhi,

ROUND THE CLOCK HELPLINES

The Hindu - February 07, 2004.

Delhi Police Advisory: We Are Concerned About Your Safety: Senior Citizens

Stop thinking that your age can be an advantage to someone else; as your safety lies in your own hands, be watchful and always keep in mind the following do's and don'ts, which will ensure your safety:

DO'S

Ensure all doors and windows have strong iron grills; look through the magic eye before opening the door; use a safety latch to allow only partial opening of the door; always go out in a group for an evening / morning walk; install a burglar alarm in your house and connect it with your neighbour's house; intimate particulars of your servant as well as tenant to the police; keep vital telephone numbers handy for emergency; inform your nearest PCR Van and neighbours if you are suspicious of someone; ensure you know the particulars of plumbers, electricians, etc. before allowing them entry into the house; keep regular link with your neighbours and the Residents' Welfare Association; be in touch with the beat police officer.

DON'TS

Don't keep valuables at home; don't boast of your prosperity to anyone; don't make an ostentatious display of cash and jewellery; don't trust strangers and don't open the door to unidentified people; don't ignore any suspicious incident and inform the police; don't let your servant have access to your almirahs or safe; don't be a recluse - keep socialising; and don't allow visitors to stay with the servant.

Hindustan Times - February 12, 2004.

Senior Citizens - Be Alert

Ensure all doors and windows have strong iron grills; look through the 'magic eye' and use safety chain before opening the door; don't open the door to strangers; get your servant verified; and don't allow your visitors to stay with him.

Late Night Travellers -

Do not mix drinking with driving; keep mobile handy for communication; do not give lift to strangers; and take help from Police Picket, if required.

Unidentified Objects -

Be alert in public places; do not touch unclaimed object; report it immediately to the Police; and do not let others touch it either.

Householders Take Precautions -

Don't keep valuables at home; verify your servant with the police; don't allow visitors to stay with him; verify your tenant's antecedents; and ensure all doors and windows have strong iron grills.

Women and Children -

Avoid passing through unlit, lonely and deserted areas; if suspicious of being followed, change your route; do not talk to strangers; and in case of need, call number 1091 or 100.

Verify Your Servant

However dependable, you must verify your servant with police; his antecedents are important to be checked; verification is a very simple process; and don't allow visitors to stay with him overnight.

Measures to Curb Terrorism -

Check the antecedents of the buyer before you sell your vehicle; verify the antecedents of he tenant before you let out your house; and inform police about any suspicious people or activities in your neighbourhood.

Sunday Times of India - February 15, 2004.

Food for Thoughts

A human being is happiest and most successful when dedicated to a cause outside his own individual, selfish satisfaction.

Benjamin Spock

***

"Give a lot of time to improve yourself, then there is no time to criticize others."

(Unknown)

***

Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.

William James
(1842-1910, Psychologist, Professor, Author)