All NE states should ensure 100% police training on new criminal laws: HM Shah

March 17, 2025 4 Views No Comment

Urges monthly meeting for CMs; directs 15-Day reviews for Chief Secretaries & DGPs

Guwahati, March 17 (MExN): Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today directed all North-East (NE) to ensure that 100% of their police personnel are trained in the new criminal laws.

Chairing a review meeting on the implementation of the three new criminal laws in NE states in Guwahati on March 16, Shah emphasised that there should be no political interference in registering cases related to terrorism, mob lynching, and organised crime.

According to an official statement, the meeting assessed the implementation and current status of various new provisions concerning police, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensics in the region.

Nagaland Chief Minister, along with his counterparts from other NE states, attended the meeting, while the Governor represented Manipur.

Shah noted that North-Eastern states need to make greater efforts to implement the new criminal laws effectively.

Once fully enforced, these laws would significantly improve the region’s law and order situation, ensuring that the Supreme Court delivers justice within three years of an FIR being registered, he added.

The Home Minister also urged all NE Chief Ministers to conduct monthly review meetings on the implementation of the laws, while directing the Director Generals of Police (DGPs) and Chief Secretaries to hold review meetings every 15 days.

Meanwhile, he stressed the need for governance to reach the grassroots level, stating that police stations should become places where people receive justice. Achieving this would require the complete implementation of the three new laws, he asserted.

Shah reiterated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Union Government remains committed to providing citizens with a speedy and transparent justice system. He further emphasised that strengthening law and order requires the prompt registration of crimes.

Highlighting the importance of the prosecution system, Shah noted that empowering the Director of Prosecution would be crucial in ensuring justice.

He also observed that for a long time, police forces in the NE were primarily focused on “combating insurgency,” which is now nearly eradicated. Therefore, he urged them to shift their focus toward protecting people’s lives, property, and dignity.

Shah further stated that the Modi government introduced the three new laws following an extensive deliberation process that lasted nearly 45 months.

At the meeting, he also lauded the Assam government for ensuring that charge sheets were filed within the stipulated time frame of 60-90 days in 66% of cases.

Accordingly, he urged other states to follow suit and called for continuous monitoring of progress in this regard.

The Home Minister also emphasised the urgent need for implementing e-Sakshya, noting that without sufficient scientific officers, it would be challenging to file comprehensive charge sheets from a forensic science perspective.

He also advocated for the use of the “Trial in Absentia” provision to facilitate the extradition of fugitive criminals.

During the meeting, Shah also unveiled a book titled, ‘New Criminal Laws: Standard Operating Procedures and Rule’s, prepared by the CID, Assam.

The meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretaries and DGPs of NE 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 state governments.

The three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—came into force on July 1, 2024, replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.