DGP: Refrain from implicating innocents

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 16

Director General of Police SR Mardi told SHOs to refrain from implicating innocent persons in cases and ensure that no criminal goes scot-free. He stated this at a meeting of all SHOs of the Southern (Shimla) range with the top brass of the police here on Wednesday.

“The focus should not be on filing of challan in the absence of evidence, In case there are no evidences against the accused, the investigating officer should state that no charge-sheet has been filed due to the lack of evidence,” he said.

Maintaining that strict action was needed to curb crime, the DGP directed the SHOs to include Sections of damage to property Act against those involved in sand mining and ensure that violators were not only penalised but also their machines and other equipment should be seized and the accused arrested.

“In bailable offences, stringent conditions should be adhered to and violation should lead to cancellation of bail, six months imprisonment for drunken driving for the first time and two years imprisonment if caught for the second time will discourage drivers from drinking and driving,” he said.

“It was brought to our notice that after the filing of an FIR, the complainants do not get to know the status of the case and, therefore, all SHOs have been directed to form WhatsApp group of complainants to inform them about the status of investigation, trial etc till conviction,” he added. The SHOs were appraised about the functioning of special investigation units to deal with crime against women, use of latest technology in investigations and night patrolling, precautions to be taken by the police teams while removing encroachments etc.