President Droupadi Murmu, Union Home Minister Govind Mohan with Indian Police Service (IPS) Probationary Commissioners of 77 Regular Recruits (Batch 2024) at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. | Photo credit: ANI
President Droupadi Murmu said on Monday (October 27, 2025) that “digital arrest” has become one of the most feared threats facing citizens today, even as technology continues to reshape the landscape of policing.
Addressing the Indian Police Services (IPS) group at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, she said that about 10 years ago, the term ‘digital arrest’ would have been unfathomable.
“This is one of the most feared threats to citizens today,” the president said, referring to the growing trend of fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers and extorting money by threatening victims with arrest or freezing their bank accounts.
The President emphasized that India’s growing digital space, including one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) user bases, presents new challenges for law enforcement. “You have to be several steps ahead in adopting new technologies, including artificial intelligence, compared to those who use these technologies with the wrong intention,” she told the young officers.
President Murmu also said that “colonial powers” in their own countries had developed policing systems based on citizen participation, but in countries like India, policing was based on “fear, mistrust and distancing”. Maintain integrity and compassion in public service, IPS examiner urged.
“People, especially the marginalized, should look to the police as a source of support and not as a terrifying entity,” she said, adding that real authority comes from “personal and professional integrity.”
Calling for a “future-ready police force” to help build a Viksit Bharat, Ms Murmu said effective policing was as essential as economic incentives to sustain growth. “Law and order is a sine qua non to attract investment in any state or region,” she said.
Pointing out that the current batch of IPS officers included 62 women – the highest ever – the President said their achievements proved that “excellence is gender neutral”.
Published – 27 Oct 2025 22:31 IST
