New Delhi:
The top cops of the country are all set to discuss organised crime, the gangster-terror network in the country and the implementation of the three new criminal laws in the backdrop of continuous threats and extortion calls from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the DG-IG conference is likely to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 29. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the top police officials of the country at this conference helmed by the Intelligence Bureau every year. This year, the focus is on policing, officials said.
Three New Criminal Laws
While the three new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — were rolled out across the country from July 31, there are “teething issues with implementation” and the issue is likely to be discussed at the pan-India platform.
“There are five verticals involved in the smooth rollout of the new criminal laws — jails, court, police, prosecution and forensics. Till manpower and resource building do not happen at all the five levels, there will be hiccups to implementation of the new laws,” a DG-rank official told
The best practices followed in Union Territories like Delhi are likely to be shared with other states. Recruitment of forensic officials, new forensic universities in states, digital evidence gathering, production of undertrials through video conferencing are all issues that are likely to be discussed in light of the provisions in the new criminal law, sources said.
Organised Crime
The other big discussion point is likely to be organised crime and its current cross-border nature. “Many states have special laws like MCOCA to deal with organised crimes. But, as is increasingly evident, the crime networks are growing to be not just pan-India but also transnational. The discussions could be around these challenges and how to meet them,” a top police official told
Home Minister Amit Shah, at the recently concluded anti-terror conference, called on states to use UAPA wherever needed and rope in the expertise of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe such cases.
Gangs like those of Lawrence Bishnoi have thrown special challenges, with accused keeping up their operations even in jail. NIA has found evidence to suggest that these gangs are now collaborating with terror groups.
Officials said the need is being felt to actively share intelligence and coordinate investigations across states and central agencies in cases of such organised crimes.
Cybercrime
Cyber criminals are also likely to be the focus area at the conference. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken the lead in tackling cybercrime through the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C). However, officials felt that awareness about how a victim of cybercrime can register a complaint and seek redressal is still minimal.
The prime minister, in his recent Mann Ki Baat address, spoke about digital arrest. The top cops of the country are likely to discuss the way forward in setting up specialised cybercrime thanas for investigation and better utilising Centre’s databases to tackle such crimes.
The conference is likely to be attended by Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, MoS for Home Affairs, Cabinet Secretary, senior officials of the government of India, DGPs of states/UTs and heads of Central Armed Police Forces and central police organisations.
