By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma while expressing concern over the rising frequency of crimes against women and children in the State has said that the Government is taking various steps to tackle the menace.
Replying to the debate on the Governor’s Address, Dr Sangma said that women police stations have been set up at the headquarters of the seven older districts and the same would also be set up in the new districts.
He informed that special juvenile police units have been constituted in all the eleven districts of the State in addition to three fast track courts that have been set up at Shillong, Tura and Jowai.
Terming the rape cases as painful, the Chief Minister said that a special court to try cases relating to rape has been set up at Nongstoin and special public prosecutors have been appointed to pursue such cases in each of the four courts.
The Government has also proposed to separate crime investigation from other functions of the police and there will be a dedicated team of officers to deal with investigations alone, the Chief Minister said, adding, “With proper training and experience, over time, this should lead to improvement in quality of investigation and higher convictions.” He said that the new initiative will begin in Shillong and based on the experiences gained, it would be extended to other areas.
According to Dr Sangma, the Government has sanctioned a separate directorate of prosecution and presently rules are being framed for recruitment of personnel in the new directorate.