PATNA: Police headquarters is planning to set up 'safe house' in each district to keep witnesses of a case, coming from outside districts, so that they could be kept at a secured place.
With the state police making much headway in speedy trial, the movement of witnesses has also increased considerably. A sub-inspector or ASI or for that matter an inspector who files chargesheet in a case, which he investigated, would take witness(es) in their custody as it becomes his duty to produce witnesses in a court. Since there is no facility at the disposal of the police at thana level, the SI or ASI concerned take witness either to his house or at an unsecured place. To prevent the escape of the witness, most of the time the junior police official cuffs his hand with that of the witness with a chain so that the latter may not escape.
DGP Abhayanand said for police it has become a very pathetic state of affairs. He said with the provision of a safe house, the junior police officers at least can have a place to keep witnesses or for that matter an accused at a safe place.
Since it would not be possible for the police headquarters to go in for construction of such a safe house, the DGP is exploring the rule whether he is empowered to take a private house for such a purpose on rent or government's nod is mandatory as finance
is involved in the matter. "Once things get cleared, police will have a safe house in each district," Abhayanand said.
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