Rajnath Singh inaugurates the first National Conference of investigating agencies
Addressing on the occasion, Rajnath Singh said that investigation agencies are facing many challenges in the investigation of traditional and modern crimes. He said that this conference is an opportunity to discuss these challenges and ways to overcome them. He expressed hope that this conference will discuss ways to improve quality of investigation especially for economic and organized crimes and related legal issues.
The Home Minister said that the crime is an act which is committed by persons with perverted mind or in adverse circumstances. He emphasised whatever the circumstances under which a crime is committed, crime cannot be accepted as legitimate by any civilized society.
He said that crime control has basically two dimensions: prevention and detection. Prevention is the best remedy since crime is nipped in the bud. However once the crime is committed, quality of investigation is the foundation on which detection is based, he added.
Rajnath Singh said that as per the National Crime Records Bureau, the conviction rate of the crimes is very low, that is why Quality of investigation is crucial in ensuring justice for the victims and punishment for the offender. He said that our thrust should be on improving investigation at police station level.
Apart from the quality of investigation at police station level, we also have to ensure proper courtesy to the victims and witnesses, he emphasized. He said that convenience of victims and witnesses must be taken into account when calling them for investigation. He also said that the victims should be kept informed about the progress of investigation from time to time.
Rajnath Singh said that the Government has taken various steps to improve the quality of investigation. He said that in case of general crime, the Government has revamped the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS) project for complete computerization of the working of police and extended it to court, jail, prosecution and forensic laboratories.
Expressing his concern for women safety, he said that the Government is concerned about the crime against women and safety of women. To investigate the crime against women, dedicated Investigative Units on Crime against Women (IUCAW) are being established in 564 districts of India.
He said that in these units, one- third of investigators will be women and funds will be made available by Central and State Governments, on 50-50 partnership basis. The Home Minister said that Central Government will spend Rs 324 crore in next 2 years on these units.
