Bhopal, Jan 13: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Madhya Pradesh is among the leading states in peace and law and order situation. He said that development is impossible without peace and prosperity and days are not far when Madhya Pradesh would become the topmost state in the matter of peace and security.

In his address after taking salute of the passing out parade of trained sub-inspectors and Subedars at Jawaharlal Training Academy Sagar, the Chief Minister said that during the last only one year all the dacoit gangs have been eliminated from Madhya Pradesh. We are proud of our police due to whose contribution no big dacoit gang has left in Chambal ravines. The small-time gangs raising their heads time to time in Bundelkhand area are also being eliminated rapidly.

He said newly trained police officials to become harder than stone for the criminals and softer than flower for law-abiding common man. Your behaviour should be such that people should not face hesitation in coming to police station to lodge their complaints. Expressing pleasure over inclusion of large number of females as police officials, he hoped that they would follow the footsteps of Maharani Laxmi Bai and Rani Durgawati. He said that the law and order situation would become even better with the command in the hands of daughters of the state. Chouhan exhorted the new officers to dedicate their lives for nation, society and people.

Home Minister Himmat Kothari said in his address that there are many challenges before police in this scientific era and the new recruits would have to face these challenges bravely. That is why they have been imparted training in new techniques of control over crimes. Stressing that the police officials should be mentally strong, Kothari said that the state government has infused a new energy in the Police Department by initiating various steps.

Director General of Police AR Pawar said that it is after a long time that so many officers are being inducted into the force. This would improve the field policing. He informed that in this era of globalisation, cyber crimes and information technology, syllabus of police officers' training has been changed according to the emerging requirements. Now these new officers would have to come true to people's expectations.

He laid stress on good behaviour with people hit by crimes. Pawar thanked the Chief Minister for raising the salaries of inspectors and sub-inspectors by Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 and increase in their nutritious food allowance.

Jawaharlal Nehru Police Academy director and inspector general B Maria Kumar informed in the progress report that out of 313 police officers passing out today, 300 are sub-inspectors and 13 Subedars. The trainees include 72 girls. Earlier, B Maria Kumar administered oath to the new recruits for paying respect to Constitution of India, National Flag and maintaining sovereignty and integrity and discharging their duties with honesty and in unbiased manner.

In the beginning, the Chief Minister along with Director General of Police and director of the academy inspected the march-past and took the salute. The five teams taking part in the parade were led by Banwarilal Mandloi, Prateeksha Merskole, Rita Singh, Arvind Kujur and Parshuram Dabar respectively.

Chouhan distributed prizes among the officers who had performed excellently during the year. Chouhan presented Governor's gold medal as well as a rifle to Rajesh Yadav who has been declared best in both internal and external training. Amit Soni stood second and was awarded Ravishankar Shukla Trophy. First prize for firing went to Manoj Rajput in men's section and Aradhana Raikwar in women's section. Sanjay Soni for Police Science, Ku Mahendra Kaur for Law, Amit Patel for Internal Test and Banwarilal for External Test were awarded for standing first while Bhuvan Deshmukh was awarded by Chief Minister Chouhan for the essay 'Role of police in modern India'. He also gave away a medal to parade commander Ziaul Haq.

On the occasion the Chief Minister released souvenir of the Academy. Those who were present at the passing out parade include Public Works Minister and minister incharge of the district Kailash Vijayvargiya, Member of Parliament Virendra Kumar, Member of Assembly Ms Sudha Jain and Dharmu Rai, Mayor Pradeep Laria, Dr Harisingh Gour University vice-chancellor DP Singh, Additional Director General of Police (Training) Ramesh Sharma, Sagar division commissioner LS Baghel, Sagar range IG KN Tiwari, several senior police officers, distinguished citizens, public representatives and family members of trainees.