New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asked the police to shift their focus toward protecting people’s lives, property and dignity as insurgency in the North-East region has almost been eradicated.
The Home Minister chaired a review meeting on the status of implementation of three new criminal laws in North-Eastern states in Guwahati, a Home Ministry statement said.
Addressing the meeting, Shah stressed that there should be no political interference in registering cases related to militancy, mob lynching, and organized crime.
Shah said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government is committed to providing the citizens with a speedy and transparent justice system. He emphasised that to strengthen law and order, it is essential to register crimes without any delay.
Shah asked the North-Eastern states to put in more efforts towards the implementation of the new criminal laws. Once these laws are fully enforced, there will be a significant transformation in the region’s law and order situation, ensuring that justice is delivered by the Supreme Court within three years of an FIR being registered in any case.
He requested the Chief Ministers of the North-Eastern states to hold a review meeting every month on the implementation of the laws. He also directed the Director Generals of Police and Chief Secretaries of the states to conduct a review meeting every 15 days.
The Home Minister said the administration must reach the grassroots level, and police stations should become places where people receive justice. He emphasised that this would only be possible with 100 percent implementation of the three new laws.
He congratulated the Assam government for ensuring filing of charge sheet within the stipulated time frame of 60-90 days in 66 percent cases and urged other states to follow this approach. He stressed the need for continuous monitoring of progress in this regard.
The Home Minister also underlined the urgent need for the implementation of e-Sakshya. He stated that until there are sufficient scientific officers, it will not be possible to file fully satisfactory charge sheets from a forensic science perspective.
Shah said the stronger the Director of Prosecution is made, the easier it will be to ensure justice for the people. He noted that, for a long time, the police in the North-East were primarily focused on fighting insurgency. However, with insurgency now nearly eradicated in the region, the police should shift their focus toward protecting people’s lives, property, and dignity.
Shah further stated that the Modi government introduced three new laws after an extensive and detailed deliberation process spanning nearly 45 months.
Shah also unveiled a book titled ‘New Criminal Laws: Standard Operating Procedures and Rules’ prepared by CID, Assam.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, alongwith the Governor of Manipur.
Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of North-Eastern states, the Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), the Director of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and other senior officials also attended the meeting.
