A 15 -member team headed by an inspector in the specialised and better equipped Homicide Investigation Squad (HIS) is working on only four cases related to murder and other heinous crimes in Dehradun. Since its inception (November 2013), the officials have so far dealt with only nine cases in the S tate capital. In other districts too, few cases are being investigated by deputed police personnel of the squad.
Uttarakhand district police heads seem to be not inclined to use this Squad up to the hilt in their districts when large number of cases related to murder and heinous crime keep pending before various police stations. State Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sidhu expressed disappointment at district police officers for keeping the squad unused despite the fact that the squad is better equipped to deal with such cases.
HIS was established to ensure qualitative improvement in investigation on registered cases and to speed up cracking the murder and other serious cases in the State, he added. Sidhu said that the senior police officers have been directed to review the cases which are being investigated by the squad members and necessary instructions should be given for swift settlement of the registered cases and for making the squad more operational.
HIS was formed in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital to give more teeth to the investigation and disposal of old murder and heinous crime cases. Fifteen members were deputed in the squad, but few cases are being investigated by them with cases piling up before the police stations, he added.
Haridwar HIS inspector Mahesh Chand Joshi said that teams are investigating around 10 cases and some cases have been solved in the past. Dehradun HIS inspector V Tamta said that teams are dealing with four cases and a total of nine cases had been allocated by the senior police officials since its inception. One inspector, five sub inspectors, two head constables and seven constables are deputed in the squad, he added. This aside, a photographer and a figure print expert are also there on deputation. Crime kit box, one camera and a laptop have also been given to the team.
At least one sub-inspector with good command on computer has also been deputed so that he could complete surveillance- related work during the investigation.
Police station concerned is supposed to provide all possible assistance to the team members. This cell gets assistance from Special Task Force and Special Operation Group.