For checking corruption and giving the Punjab Police a makeover, State Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora has roped in technology for keeping tab on the activities of police personnel.
A third eye will soon maintain a vigil not just in the police stations, but also on the on-field traffic cops. The State police chief also set 30-day deadline for completion of enquiry into complaints and made it clear that the investigating officer will not be transferred out during the course of enquiry. The DGP, issuing a set of 13 directives to the Police Commissioners of Jalandhar, ludhiana, and Amritsar, along with all zonal Inspector General of Police (IGP), has also asked to check the misuse of laws protecting the minorities and weaker sections of the society, while initiating strict action against such persons.
In a two-letter communiqué to the State police top brass, DGP has also asked for sparing at least two hours for listening to the complaints and grievances of the public.
The instructions were issued by the DGP after a number of complaints were received from various quarters regarding “increasing corruption” in the Punjab Police and Traffic Police. “This year, Punjab Police’s image is witnessing a downslide every day,” read the letter.
DGP has asked to set up e-surveillance system in all police stations across the State, where police personnel are performing their duties in offices, which will be linked with a control room supervised by a “responsible officer”.
“If any corrupt practice was noticed, it should immediately be informed to the controlling officer,” the letter added.
For the traffic cops, who perform their duties in the field, the DGP has suggested wearing a body-camera on their uniform “so as to keep a tab on minute-by-minute activities”. This would help in taking on record the bad behaviour by the traffic personnel or the public, besides any kind of pressure for asking for bribe or offering bribe respectively.
The officers have also been asked to “minimise the use of mobile phones” as per the requirement. “In case of a suspected cop, his phone can be put on surveillance to keep a check on his activities,” read the instructions. DGP has also asked for rotating the duties of the traffic cops maintaining that they should not be posted at the same place, besides asking for specifying their duty hours.
Clear instructions have been issued for not transferring the investigating officer during the course of investigation without any substantial reason, and “before issuing further orders, the investigating officer would be time to complete the enquiry”. It also made it clear that the investigating officer would not be shifted only on the request of the complainant, as has been noticed earlier.
The investigating officer has been asked to give priority to the orders issued by the Courts and the Commissions.
Asking the officers to check the practice of “misuse of laws” to protect the weaker and minority sections, the DGP has asked to take strict action against such people who register false cases on the basis of these laws like Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Castes/Tribes Act, 1989, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Dowry Act, etc. “Strict action is required to be taken against such persons so that only the real victims can benefit from these laws…necessary legal actions would also be initiated without hesitation against those habitual of filing false complaints,”
The officers would also be made aware of their powers under the CrPC and other laws for performing their duties in fair and just manner. At the same time, he also warned the police officers of strict action for misusing their powers under these laws.