Misuse of cyberspace a new challenge: Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde

HYDERABAD: Cyberspace was proving to be a facilitator for those who wanted to offer distorted version of reality, as was seen during the violence against people from North-East recently, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said here today.

Speaking at the passing-out parade of the 64th batch of Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Shinde said rumours and irresponsible use of social networking media, as seen in Bangalore, Pune and other parts of country recently, pose a new challenge.

"Besides providing a pervasive infrastructure for discreet communication, cyberspace is proving to be a facilitator for malevolents seeking to enlist new recruits and to purvey a distorted version of reality," he said.

Technological development was giving rise to new forms of criminality "which recognise no borders", he said, adding that terrorism and naxalism were new challenges to internal security of the country.

Academy director V N Rai said as a part of the training of IPS probationers, `Model Police Station' were designed this year at the campus.

"The officer trainees stay for 24 hours in the Model Police Station and carry out all routines of a Police Station, including documentation, registration of cases and investigation, disposal of complaints, patrolling, service of summons," he said.

The 64th batch of probationers comprised 140 officers, including 20 women, four officers each from Royal Bhutan Police and Maldives Police Service, and five from Nepal Police Service.

The IPS trainees participated in the parade and took oath in the rain. Isha Pant, Madhya Pradesh cadre officer, was declared the best all-round IPS probationer and awarded the Prime Minister's baton and the Home Ministry's revolver, while the IPS Association's Sword of honour for the Best Outdoor Probationer went to Aravindan P.