Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Thursday stressed on the need for evolving mechanism to counter misuse of cryptocurrency or virtual currency as it is widely in currency.

Addressing the 46th All India Police Science Congress on Thursday, Thakur said the use of cryptocurrency or virtual currency is widespread now-a-days and the law enforcing agencies must understand it fully and evolve mechanism to counter its use in crimes. “It is necessary to have good knowledge of information the technology to solve different crimes,” he said, adding such conferences would not only help in upgrading the police’s skill sets, but also go a long way in providing efficient services to the public.

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He said the government endeavoured to ensure optimum use of modern technology for ensuring effective law and order situation in the state.

Thakur said the Himachal Pradesh’s police department had been adjudged as the best in implementation of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems project (CCTNS).

“It is the need of the hour to think out of the box to enhance police functioning and maximise use to technology in day to day police functioning,” he said.

The CM said social media had revolutionised the new medium of communication and the law enforcing agencies can no longer ignore its potential in various policing functions.

“Though police and citizens have different perceptions and priorities about social media, it can prove very useful to bridge the gap between the police and public,” he added.

Drug abuse, particularly by the younger generation, was another area of concern, said Thakur. “Though seizure of drugs is a way to curb the supply of drugs, the best way to check this social vice was to end it from where it begins that is cultivation of such crops. Destruction of illicit crops such as cannabis, opium poppy etc should be the main strategies to cut down the supply of such drugs,” he said.

Thakur said a better understanding of these issues was imperative to deliver quality services to the people and live up to their expectations of providing safe and secure crime free environment to them.

“The government is committed to providing a safe and secure environment to the women of the state so that they could contribute towards development,” he said, adding maintaining best law and order was also a top priority.

He said focus of the government was to check drug peddling, particularly involvement of youth in these activities.