SHILLONG, June 18: In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at making justice more accessible, the Meghalaya Police has decided to take a major innovative step — police personnel will now visit complainants at their homes to record First Information Reports (FIRs) instead of requiring victims to travel to police stations.
Informing this on Thursday, Director General of Police (DGP) Idashisha Nongrum said the department is working on a mechanism where victims can simply dial a helpline. Police teams will then reach the complainant’s location to register the FIR and initiate immediate action.
“It is still at an early stage, but we are trying to make the process easier and more accessible,” the DGP said.
The move is expected to significantly benefit women and vulnerable sections who often hesitate to approach police stations due to fear, social stigma, or logistical challenges.
As part of this broader reform, the department is also strengthening its Women Help Desks by enabling women facing violence to report incidents directly from their homes. The initiative follows a candid internal review where the police assessed the limited success of previous awareness campaigns.
“We have done an audit of what we had done earlier and where we have failed,” Nongrum said, adding that the department is now shifting focus to more targeted and effective interventions.
One such key partnership is with ASHA workers, who serve as vital grassroots links in rural and community settings. The programme has already been rolled out in six districts across the state’s eastern and western ranges.
“ASHA workers have a much wider reach at the grassroots level and are often among the first responders in cases involving women and children,” the DGP noted.
The DGP also expressed concern over the rising issue of cyber bullying among students. Meghalaya Police has been conducting awareness sessions in schools, addressing both physical and online harassment. Several schools have proactively sought guidance from the department on tackling this menace. These sessions also educate students about available helplines and the immediate steps they can take if victimised.
On challenges in POCSO cases, Nongrum acknowledged difficulties in meeting prescribed investigation timelines, mainly due to delays in receiving DNA and forensic reports. She also highlighted the recurring problem of victims turning hostile during trials, which complicates prosecutions even after charge sheets are filed.
Responding to queries about a clerical error in court documents related to the Sonam Raghuvanshi case, the DGP clarified that the mistake was confined to a single document. Correct legal provisions were cited in other records, including transit remand papers. She added that the state is challenging the court order granting bail in the case.
