Speaking to mediapersons at the Babiyal Firing Range during the shooting competitions here today, Kaul said that there is no reason why state police forces should not participate in professional meets.

``Lack of interest in such activities shows that there is something wrong in the mental approach to the profession,'' he said. Such meets develop the spirit of comradeship as there is not only healthy competition, but also informal professional exchange, he added.

Kaul said that one reason cited for non-participation is the lack of resources, even though state police forces keep asking the central government for grants for modernisation.

He said the response indicated that heads of police organisations need to go back to the round table for some introspection to ``ensure that future police duty meets are fully attended.''He said only about 16 states and three central police organisations are participating in the meet. ``The least representation is in the scientific investigation competitions, which happens to be the core work of police organisations.''Shooting has attracted the maximum competitors. The Karnataka team, with 90 members, is the largest, followed by West Bengal with 85 members. Arunachal Pradesh and Central Bureau of Investigation have the smallest teams with four and two members respectively.

Earlier, the rifle and pistol/revolver shooting competition was inaugurated by S. K. Sethi, Director General, Haryana Police. Only weapons in service with police and security forces are being permitted in the competitions.

A total of 28 teams are participating in this event. Rifle shooting from 100 meters was held today. The shooters include 15 women personnel -- six from Tamil Nadu, four from Karnataka, one from Meghalaya and two each from the CRPF and the Chandigarh Police. Competitions in scientific aids to investigations were flagged off by the ITBP Chief, at the 9th Battalion, Ramgarh. A total of 124 participants from 17 police organisations are competing in observation, crime scene photography, forensic science, foot and finger printing, police photography and medico-legal aspects.

The dog competition was inaugurated by T. R. Mahajan, Director General, Himachal Pradesh Police, at the ITBP Basic Training Centre at Bhanu, near Panchkula. About 18 teams comprising 70 dogs are participating in this meet. Explosive and narcotics detection in buildings and vehicles, tracking and apprehension of suspects, obedience and guarding objects were the main competitions. The breeds participating in the competitions were Labrador, German Shepherd, Doberman, Rottweiler and Golden Retriever.

The computer literacy and competency of cops was put to test at the ITBP Transport Battalion, Chandigarh, where 109 participants, divided into 25 teams, took part. The event was inaugurated byAdditional General Punjab Police S. K. Verma. L/Nk Durga Prasad of the ITBP won the first event in the rifle shooting, while Havildar K. Chennudu of Andhra Pradesh and L/Nk Bal Bahadur Gurang of Assam Rifles bagged the second and third positions respectively.