Will achieve 50 percent conviction rate by 2026: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that his government has been working to achieve a 50 percent conviction rate in the state by 2026. He said that the conviction rate in the state was 5 percent two years ago, rose to 14 percent now, and is set to reach 20 percent by the end of the year.

Briefing the media after the two-day conference of SPs, the Chief Minister said, "The past two years have witnessed remarkable improvement in filing FIRs, completing investigations, and filing charge sheets. We lag behind only in the conviction rate. With a view to raising the conviction rate, we are placing stress on scientific investigation. We have set up several forensic laboratories in the state. We are imparting training to 400 police officials as crime-scene officers outside the state. After their return, these officials will man every police station. In every crime, such trained officials will be the first ones to visit the scene to collect evidence. Every SP will have a legal adviser to examine the reasons behind the government losing cases so as to move the high court seeking justice."

He said, "Fifty percent of the cases registered in the state are in the police stations of Guwahati. Taking that in view, we are going to increase the number of police stations in Guwahati to 34 from the existing 19, besides increasing the strength of police personnel, including that of traffic management, in Guwahati. We will file charge sheets against all old pending cases in Guwahati by April 2024."

The Chief Minister said, "The 250 patrol posts and outposts in the state have no power to register cases on their own. We will convert all 250 patrol posts and outposts into police stations. We will bring all the separate directorates, like those of Home Guard and Civil Defence, BI (EO), etc., into an integrated directorate under the DGP."

On cybercrimes, the Chief Minister said, "It has decreased by around 50 percent in the state in the past two years. In the same way, crimes against women and children have also come down."

He said that the government is committed to banning polygamy and child marriage in the state. "A committee under Justice Rumi Phukan is examining the legal pros and cons of banning polygamy in the state. Incidents of child marriage have come down in the state. However, we want to make it zero. From September next, we will carry out drives against child marriages in the state," the Chief Minister said.

Regarding 'love jihad', the Chief Minister said, "Without leaving it as simple inter-faith marriage, we will keep a wider scope open for investigation so as to unearth behind-the-scenes circumstances leading to such marriages. This is because in most such marriages, conversion and blackmailing are very common. We need to see such angles as well. A kazi cannot solemnise the marriage between a Hindu and a Muslim. For such interfaith marriages, the bride and groom have to undergo the special marriage Act meant for them. I appeal to all not to go for such inter-faith marriages to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state."

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