New bill to make police more accountable: Nitish

Patna, Mar 31 (UNI) Appreciating the new Police Bill 2007, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the bill would make the police more accountable and establish discipline in the system.

Mr Kumar told newspersons here the new bill, drafted following directives of the Supreme Court, would establish 'people oriented face' of the police. He said the bill would enhance the efficiency of police which now would become more accountable to the people.

Mr Kumar said the police will have to be ''impartial'' and maintain ''transparency'' in investigation of cases.

He said three new clauses had been included in the bill to prevent atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, to establish better ''communication system'' and to protect the human rights.

He said some vested interests were spreading confusion on speculations even without going through the bill.

Meanwhile, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi alleged the new police bill smacked of colonial ''psychosis'' of the redundant police act of 1861 and stated the new bill was in contravention the spirit of model police act circulated by the Centre.

UNI