Police Should Exercise Control, Discipline on Social Media: Home Minister

In the backdrop of security personnel reportedly lured by anti-national elements through social media, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday cautioned that the personnel need to exercise control and discipline while using this mode of communication.

Inaugurating National Community Policing Conclave at Kovalam near Thiruvananthapuram, Singh asked the police to make use of technology smartly and sensibly as an instrument of peace as well as a force multiplier.

Lauding the role of social media, Singh said it can tremendously empower the police in fostering police-community relationship, taking it to a new heights of communication and building of trust between the police and the people.

But "...the use of social media by the security personnel needs to be done in a controlled and disciplined manner," Singh cautioned.

Over the past few years, a number of reports have appeared alleging security personnel were being trapped by foreign intelligence officials through social media.

Recently, an Indian Air Force personnel Ranjith KK was arrested from Bhatinda. It was alleged he was lured by one Damini McNaught, pretending to be the executive of a UK-based media firm, on Facebook where he gave out information about movement of Air Force.