Home minister Amit Shah wants NE states to implement new criminal laws
Subhashis Mittra
For a long time, the police in the Northeast (NE) primarily focused on fighting insurgency. However, with insurgency now nearly eradicated in the region, the police should shift their focus towards protecting people’s lives, property and dignity.
This was Union home minister Amit Shah’s advice to the police in the Northeastern states at a recent review meeting in Guwahati on the status of implementation of three new criminal laws in NE states.
After taking stock of the implementation of three new criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—Shah said in a post on X, that he had directed the NE states to monitor the progress and instructed the police forces to focus more on securing the rights of the citizens.
The meeting reviewed the implementation and present status of various new provisions related to police, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensics in the Northeastern states. The meeting was attended by the chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, along with Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Governor of Manipur, which is now under President’s rule.
The Union home secretary, chief secretaries and directors general of police of Northeastern 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 from the ministry of home affairs (MHA) and the state governments also attended the meeting.
Shah told the participants that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the centre 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.
He felt that the Northeastern states need to put in more efforts towards the implementation of the new criminal laws and stated that once these laws are fully enforced, there will be a significant transformation in the region’s law and order situation, by ensuring that justice is delivered by the Supreme Court within three years of an FIR being registered in any case.
The Union home minister said that there should be no political interference in registering cases related to terrorism, mob lynching and organised crime. He said that all Northeastern states should ensure training of 100 per cent police personnel on the new criminal laws.
Shah requested the chief ministers of the Northeastern states to hold a review meeting every month on the implementation of the laws and directed the directors general of police and chief secretaries of these states to conduct a review meeting every 15 days.
He said that the administration must reach the grassroots level, and police stations should become places where people receive justice. This would only be possible with 100 per cent implementation of three new laws, he asserted.
Shah congratulated the Assam government for ensuring filing of charge sheet within the stipulated time frame of 60-90 days in 66 per cent 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 emphasised the urgent need for the implementation of e-Sakshya. He stated that until there are sufficient number of officers with scientific background, it will not be possible to file fully satisfactory charge sheets from a forensic science perspective. He urged the use of ‘Trial in Absentia’ provision, saying, it will help bring fugitive criminals back to the country.
Shah said that the stronger the Directorate of Prosecution, the easier it will be to ensure justice for the people. He noted that for a long time, the police in the NE 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.
At the meeting, BPRD director general Rajeev Kumar Sharma made a presentation and apprised the minister of the status of the implementation of the three new laws in the Northeastern states.
Shah said that there should be no political interference in registering cases related to terrorism, mob lynching and organised crime. ‘All Northeastern states should ensure training of 100 per cent police personnel on the new criminal laws,’ according to an official statement, quoting the Union minister. The home minister also unveiled a book titled New Criminal Laws: Standard Operating Procedures and Rules prepared by CID, Assam.