Chandrababu Naidu calls for technology-driven, humane policing in Andhra Pradesh

Chandrababu Naidu urged Andhra Pradesh Police to combine advanced technology with humane treatment of victims. The approach aims to prevent crime, strengthen public trust and support investment-led development.Calling for humane policing, Naidu said every person who approached a police station hoped for a solution and should be treated with respect. (File Photo: ITG)Amaravati,Oct 21, 2026 10:48 ISTAndhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday urged police personnel to use technology to prevent crime and treat victims with humanity, news agency Press Trust of India reported. He said effective law and order was essential for the state's development, investment and people's well-being.Speaking on Police Commemoration Day, Naidu paid tribute to personnel who died in the line of duty. He said their sacrifices should be remembered as a responsibility and not merely with sympathy.Naidu laid floral tributes at the Amar Jawan Memorial at the sixth Andhra Pradesh Special Police Battalion in Mangalagiri. Addressing a gathering later, he said, "Police personnel must adopt technology-driven methods to prevent crimes, treat victims with humanity and maintain effective law and order, which are essential for the state's development, attracting investments and ensuring people's well-being."He said the khaki uniform represented responsibility and the police offered reassurance to people. Describing policing as a noble profession, he said personnel risked their lives to protect the public. The chief minister said October 21 was observed as Police Commemoration Day in memory of 10 police personnel killed while repelling an attack by Chinese troops in Ladakh on the same day in 1959. He said the police department remained on duty at all times, providing security during festivals, VIP visits and other events, often giving up celebrations with their families to ensure public safety.Naidu said the Andhra Pradesh Police had built a distinct identity through their handling of difficult situations, including violence, extremism and communal clashes. He also congratulated the Counter Intelligence wing for uncovering conspiracies that threatened national security, PTI reported. He said law and order, development, employment and people's happiness were interconnected, as industrialists would not invest in places affected by unrest and insecurity. Maintaining law and order had always been his priority whenever he was in power, he added.Calling for humane policing, Naidu said every person who approached a police station hoped for a solution and should be treated with respect. The police uniform should reassure victims, while criminals should fear the sight of khaki, he said.He called for greater use of artificial intelligence, data analysis and drones to improve crime prevention and investigations. CCTV cameras could help identify crimes, while data analysis could uncover the facts behind them, he said, adding that the Andhra Pradesh Police should become a national leader in technology-driven policing.Naidu also warned against cybercrime, saying criminals were stealing people's lifetime savings through phone calls, links and messages. He directed the police not to tolerate crimes committed under the guise of politics and called for strict action against rowdies who harassed people and other anti-social elements.Preventing crime was the hallmark of effective policing, while solving a crime demonstrated efficiency, he said. He stressed the need to ensure women's safety, curb drug abuse and ganja, and reduce road accidents.Naidu congratulated the EAGLE anti-narcotics team for its efforts to control ganja and drugs. He also urged police personnel to remain physically and mentally fit and manage work-related stress through yoga, meditation and other activities.The chief minister said the ultimate aim was to ensure that every citizen could sleep peacefully and that their property remained protected. He said the government would support the families of police martyrs and work for the welfare of police personnel.Naidu later visited exhibitions organised by various wings of the police department. He examined forensic equipment used in criminal investigations, disaster relief equipment and modern weapons deployed by units including OCTOPUS. He also suggested wider use of drones for surveillance and other purposes and donated to the Police Martyrs' Memorial Fund.Naidu's address focused on humane and technology-driven policing, stronger crime prevention and public safety, while reaffirming government support for police personnel and the families of those who died in service.- Ends