Ensure quick action in crime against SCs, STs: MHA to states

Mukesh Ranjan

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New Delhi, June 18

Expressing concerns over crime against Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) people, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked states and Union Territories (UTs) to make sure that police play a “more proactive role” in registering FIRs and investigating such cases.

In the letter to chief secretaries of the states and the UTs, the MHA also cited suggestions made in the 26th national review meeting conducted on the effective implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, last month.

The ministry said, “The Government of India is deeply concerned with the crimes against the weaker sections of society, particularly SCs and STs, and would, therefore, re-emphasise that urgent action be taken by the state governments and UT administrations.”

It also emphasised that administration and police “should play a more proactive role in detection and investigation of crime against SCs/STs and ensure there is no under-reporting”.