Thursday, September 1 2005 19:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Making it clear that the foremost task of police officers was to control crime and maintain order, Home Minister Shivraj Patil today (Sept 1, 2005) asked them to 'resist temptation' to share with the media information that may hamper investigation.

"Interaction with the media is an essential component of your accountability to the society in a democracy. At the same time it is to be tempered with the professional judgement as to when and how much information is to be given," he told a first-ever National Conference of Superintendents of Police in NewDelhi.

Noting that at times the officers feel tempted to share with the media information that may hamper the investigation, Patil said, "such temptation must be resisted."

"Your first and foremost duty is to accomplish the tasks assigned to you, that is, controlling crimes and maintenance of order. That priority should always be kept in view," the Home Minister said.

Pointing out that in the age of information technology information spreads instantly, he said often seniors in the police hierarchy learn of incidents from the media rather than from the field functionaries.

"Even in investigation you will find the statements of the witnesses are telecast on the (TV) channels perhaps before the police have recorded them. Accountability of police has thus been given a new dimension," Patil added.