New Delhi: Police Commissioner Delhi Rakesha Asthana has formed a special investigation cell (SIC) to carry out supervision of cases related to the Northeast Delhi riots in 2020.
The move occurred after the court, on various occasions, has attracted the police for poor investigations and lack of chargesheets .
SiC will consist of four senior officers: Police Special Commissioners (Central Zone), CP Joint (East), Deputy CP (Northeast) and additional DCP (northeast).
They will examine delayed investigations in cases of riots and lime strategies that are bound by time to ensure fast probes and effective prosecution.
Asthana sequence read: “All file cases of pending investigations must be well investigated and investigative officers (iOS) will be guided to resolve investigations in a more effective way and time bound by adding all possible evidence on the record.” The top COP also said that in cases where the forensic laboratory report was awaited, the police had to follow up personally with the FSL director to speed up the results.
The order added, “the officers will personally relate to the public prosecutor specifically to ensure their presence in court in all respects and also to represent prosecution cases on each date effectively.” Asking senior officers to attend the court to communicate the facts effectively from each case, the order also made it powerful towards the police team to ensure that all witnesses and iOS were well complained and prepared for court hearing.
Police headquarters have attached 14 police officers previously serving in the northeastern district of the riots to help in the case investigation.
“K G Tyagi, ACP (RETD), has been appointed as a consultant to monitor riot cases.
The service must be used effectively,” Asthana was directed.
In September, a city court, while releasing three people in the case of riots, described the failure of the police to carry out the right investigation as a “waste of time and taxpayer money” colossal and criminal.
In August, Delhi police had also directed his officers to attend the court trial after four courts heard the cases pulling investigative officers because of being absent during the hearing.