HYDERABAD: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said a new legislation to replace the Indian Police Act, which dated back to 1861, would be enacted soonto effectively fight crime.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the passing out parade of the 57th batch of Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers) at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here on Saturday, Mr. Patil said the legislation was aimed at expanding the reach of laws to new and emerging areas of crime.

A committee had been constituted to prepare the draft bill based on the recommendations made in the past by many bodies (including the National Police Commission of 1977-78). The committee had commenced its work some time ago.

Mr. Patil said the draft bill would be discussed with experts before being placed before the Union Cabinet and the views of State Governments sought before its introduction in the Parliament. The process might take six months.

A word to officers

He also said the Centre would extend all assistance to the States to deal with naxalism. "There was a lot of cooperation in the joint operations launched by the State Governments", he said.

Mr. Patil earlier reviewed the parade at which 76 IPS probationers, including six women officers, four officer trainees of the Maldivian Police Service and two of the Royal Bhutan Police passed out after a 44 week-long training.

He told the probationers that the gravity and pervasiveness of the threat posed by terrorism had been brought home once again recently.

`POTNET' link

NPA Director Kamal Kumar said the institution had established a web-based police training network "POTNET," linking all police training institutions of the country, so that they could all draw upon the training resources, experiences and innovative practices of each other.

Senthil Velan of the Tamil Nadu cadre who commanded the parade was presented the Prime Minister's baton and Home Ministry's revolver for being adjudged as the best all-round probationer. Intelligence Bureau Director E.S.L. Narasimhan, Director-General, Border Security Force, R.S. Mooshahary, and Director-General, National Security Guard, Ashish Mitra, were present.

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