Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving a speech.Representative image. Reuters file

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for SMART policing in the country on Sunday and urged the people to change their perception about police forces.

"I have a concept of 'SMART Police' in my mind," Modi told the 49th All India DGPs and IGPs conference here.

"S stands for Strict and Sensitivity, M for Modern and Mobility, A for Alert and Accountable, R for Reliable and Responsive and T for Tech savvy and Trained," he said while laying out his plan.

Noting that sacrifice and contribution of the police should not be ignored, he said over 33,000 police personnel have died in the line of duty since Independence.

"Since Independence, 33,000 police personnel sacrificing their lives for the nation... Their sacrifices shouldn't go in vain. It is up to us... for us, their sacrifice cannot die."

Besides, he urged Indians to change their perception about police and said there was a need to project good works done by police.

"Thinking of the people about our police force can change and this can be done through knowing ground realities," Modi said.

"Through you (police) a lot of good things are happening in the nation. Why can't positive stories be put on a website," he said.

This is the first time the All India DGPs and IGPs conference is being held outside Delhi.

Directors Generals of Police (DGPs) and Inspectors Generals of Police (IGPs) from all states and union territories, heads of all paramilitary forces, officials from the Intelligence Bureau and all chief ministers of the northeastern states are taking part in the two-day conference that started on Saturday.