Virbhadra urges PM to sensitise cops to prevent communal riots

Addressing the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting in New Delhi,chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,he also advocated the use of modern technology and to educate and motivate youth to avoid them from falling in the hands of communal forces.

“Stop communalisation of national institutions like education,history and the polity of the nation… measures should be taken to promote harmony and national integration,” Virbhadra said while seeking stringent action against those who incite and indulge in “fissiparous acts”.

Introspecting the reasons for “divisive and disruptive episodes” witnessed in different parts of the country,he said: “We probably need to pay greater attention to understanding these aspirations of our people and frame policies that will help achieve them… Make use of all our resources to help our people achieve their aspirations.”

Listing out measures that could be taken to promote harmony,he said: “Make use of modern technology to not only safeguard against anti-nationals but also use it effectively to reach out to the youth to educate and motivate them.”

“Himachal Pradesh is a peaceful state with absolute communal harmony. The government has created a mechanism where cases related to communal issues or FIRs registered on such complaints are treated as special reported cases,” Virbhadra said.

He added: “Instructions have been issued to the law enforcing agencies and

special cells under DSP (Headquarters) have been constituted at districts to deal with such cases. FIRs lodged by any community are treated as special reported case…”