Open Indo-Nepal border cause of concern: Akhilesh

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said the open Indo-Nepal border is emerging as a possible ingress point for anti-national elements because of strict vigil on the country's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Speaking at the Internal Security conference of Chief Ministers in New Delhi, the newly-elected UP CM said the 550km-long border with the state requires special policing arrangement to put a check on any possible anti-national activity.

"I would like to attract the attention of the centre for establishing adequate number of integrated check-posts and special police arrangements to control any possible anti-national activities.

Akhilesh also demanded an eight fold hike for funds allocated to the state for the modernisation of police from the current Rs 100 crore to Rs 800 crore.

The chief minister said considering the large size of the state, present contribution of the centre for the modernisation of police is very less and needs to be at least 10 per cent of the state police budget which is Rs 8,000 crore.

Akhilesh said frequent changes being implemented by the centre in crime and criminal tracking methods were not allowing full implementation of the system in the states.

The young chief minister sought the centre's help in getting advanced systems and equipment for information and intelligence collection.

He also said that the upcoming Kumbh Mela in 2013 would attract crore of pilgrims from across the globe and demanded help with regard to intelligence, manpower and security apparatus from the centre to conduct the event smoothly.

Akhilesh said Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar should be included in Mega city policing projects and provided with sophisticated weapons and systems.

He also demanded Rs 5,000 crore central help for improving the strength of state police.

The Chief Minister said the state requires help in advanced non-lethal weapons systems to control riot-like situations and said a proposal of Rs 750 crore has been sent to the centre seeking help in modernisation of the state forensic science laboratories.

Expressing concern over the growing menace of fake currency, he demanded setting up of a special laboratory in Lucknow or Kanpur to identify such notes.

He said tackling left wing extremism requires police intervention as well as social and economic development and demanded centre's increased help in the development schemes.