GUWAHATI, Sept 22 � The Police Accountability Commission, Assam, has pointed out a number of glaring examples of misconduct by police personnel in different parts of the State and pointed out that there have been instances of misuse of the PSOs. The Commission further stressed the need for change of mindset of the police personnel and Government officials to improve the behaviour of the police personnel.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice DN Choudhury admitted that there have been instances where directives of the Commission for launching criminal investigation or initiation of departmental proceedings against the erring police personnel were not taken in the right spirit by the authorities concerned. He said that the Government should give more teeth to the Commission if the present trend is to be changed. He said that not much change in the mindset of the police personnel was seen, at least in the police station level and people are still getting problems in getting their complaints entertained.
Justice Choudhury said that delay in taking up of investigation on complaints registered is a matter of concern and there have been instances when complaints were not registered under proper sections of the law, thus allowing the culprits to go scot free. There were instances where the police personnel got themselves involved in civil matters in violation of the law.
The Commission recently submitted its annual report for the year 2009 to the State Government and a copy of the same has also been forwarded to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is in charge of the Home Department. The report pointed out a number of glaring instances of misconduct by police personnel and now it is up to the Government to take appropriate action on it.
The report of the Commission pointed out that in one case of blatant violation of the law, the officer in charge of the Rani police outpost unlawfully detailed a person in police lock up for 24 hours to facilitate capturing of his land and destruction of properties by another person. Instead of being accountable to the law, the police officer himself indulged in violation of law and manipulated the records to cover up his misdeeds, the report said. In fact, in the last couple of years, the Police Accountability Commission received a number of complaints of land grabbing and involvement of police personnel in it.
The Commission said in its report that the supervisory authorities of the police are performing their duties in perfunctory manner, particularly in matters of investigation and in most cases, they are endorsing whatever the junior officers are presenting before them without examination. The police stations and outposts developed sluggishness because of lack of adequate supervision and guidance, the report added.
The report revealed that the Commission directed the DGP to register a criminal case against officer in charge of a police station for his alleged involvement in coal mafia, but the same officer was later promoted as circle inspector.
There were instances when police personnel were reported absconding after allegations of their involvement in criminal cases crop up. There is a trend of the PSOs committing serious crimes including killing of innocent persons. There is urgent need for addressing the issue of misuse of the PSOs, the Commission suggested.