Govt to form Special Investigation Dept in police: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9 (UNI) Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today told the State Assembly that the government would constitute a Special Investigation Department in the state by December.

Replying to questions by C H Kunjambu (CPI-M) and others, he said the department, to be constituted on the direction of the Supreme Court, would be a wing for forensics.

Mr Balakrishnan said steps would be taken to introduce all modern methods like brain mapping and polygraph tests, replacing obsolescent third degree methods and torture in police stations.

Stating that the government would implement all the possible recommendations in the K T Thomas Commission report, the Home Minister said the government was planning to set up a centralised lockup system under a DSP, segregating it from local police stations, in the state on a pilot basis.

Since Kolkata was the only state which had implemented such a system, the government would depute ADGP Jacob Punnose to conduct a study about the system. After getting the report from him, necessary action in this regard would be taken, he added.

He said the government would revise the Police Act and Manual as part of the modernisation programme and a committee with DGP Sukumaran Nair as its Chairman and ADGP Jaccob Punnose as convener has been authorised to submit a report in this regard.

Pointing out that community policing systems were functioning in Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram districts in different names, he said a scheme, coordinating them would be implemented throughout the state.

Reiterating that no third degree methods would be allowed in police stations, he said the official responsible would be punished. Necessary instructions in this regard have been issued to all police stations, he added.

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