The state government on Saturday dubbed the "misgivings" about the Bihar Police Act, 2007 as unfounded. "The new Act is aimed at making the police more accountable, bringing about a positive change in the police force and making it more people-friendly," CM Nitish Kumar said at a press meet. He described the hue and cry raised by the opposition over it as an "opposition for the sake of opposition". "Perhaps it is because of lack of knowledge. They should have compared the new legislation with the Police Act, 1861," he remarked. The press meet sought to dismiss the four major "misgivings" aired by the opposition and even a section of the civil society that the Act violated the Supreme Court order; was draconian and that the powers of the DGP and the SPs had been reduced. Apart from the chief minister, the press meet was also addressed by top brass of the civil and police administration, including chief secretary Ashok Choudhary, home commissioner Afzal Amanullah, DGP Ashish Ranjan Sinha and advocate general P K Shahi. Amanullah gave a power point presentation on the Act which received the governor's nod on Friday. Asked if he agreed with Amanullah's presentation, the DGP remarked, "I have not contradicted anything that the home commissioner has said and there is no scope for disagreement". Amanullah gave details of the Supreme Court case Prakash Singh and others vs Union government and others in which the apex court ordered the Union government and the state government to enact a new legislation which would replace the Police Act, 1861. He said the Supreme court had ordered creation of a state security commission, selection and fixing the minimum tenure of DGP, the IG of police and other field officers. It had also ordered separation of investigation from law and order and setting up of the police establishment board and police complaint authority. He said that the Police Draft Committee, comprising the chief secretary, home commissioner, DGP, ADG (headquarters) and advocate general, had held several meetings in the last three and a half months before preparing the draft Bill. It was discussed at the cabinet meeting twice before approval. Amanullah pointed out that the new Act had 97 Sections. "As many as 83 of these Sections have been taken from the Model Police Act, prepared by Soli Sorabjee and circulated by the Centre, and 11 retained from the old Police Act. The state government has added only three Sections — Section 9, which deals with the establishment of police stations to deal with atrocities on SC/ST, Section 16, which deals with building a sophisticated network, and Section 36, which deals with human rights violation by the police," he said. The home commissioner insisted that though the structure of state security commission and police complaint authority had been altered, the spirit of forming these bodies had been retained. "Bihar has 40 police districts. Creation of separate police complaint authority would mean a huge financial burden on the state," he remarked. CM Nitish Kumar said, "We welcome any informed debate on the Act. It is always open for review if anything wrong is found in it."
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Nitish dismisses 'misgivings'about police Act
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/Cities/Patna/Nitish_dismisses_misgivingsabout_police_Act/RssArticleShow/articleshow/1839784.cms
'Maoists giving moral support to J&K terrorists'
The CPI(Maoist) has been giving "moral" support to Kashmiri terrorists. According to a Bihar police documents, this came to light during interrogation of Kameshwar Baitha alias Udeshwar alias Shankar alias Jaggu, a self-styled "zonal commander" of the CPI(Maoist), who carried a reward of Rs two lakh on his head and was instrumental in the killing of about 80 policemen. Baitha was arrested by Patna police in May, 2005. DGP Ashish Ranjan Sinha had then described it as a "prize catch" of Bihar police. "Kameshwar Baitha also ascertained that the CPI(Maoist) is giving moral support to Kashmiri terrorists," the police document said. It (document) also indicates that top Maoist leader Narayan Sanyal in Andhra Pradesh also admitted during his interrogation that he had introduced Kameshwar Baitha to the party. The document states that 30 of the 38 districts in Bihar are Naxal-infested and lists the districts of Patna, Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal, Kaimur, Rohtas, Nawada and Jamui as "hyper-sensitive". The "sensitive" districts are Bhojpur, Muzzafarpur, Sitamarhi, Motihari, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Banka, Bagaha and Sheohar, the document says adding that 12 other districts have been put in the category of "less sensitive". The document suggests that the Maoists are spreading their influence in Bihar and are recruiting youths mainly along the Indo-Nepal border. "Tharu boys and girls of Bagha in West Champaran district have been recruited to strengthen its cadre. They are recruiting youths from different parts of the state luring them with women," the document further states. The document also states that the CPI(Maoist) has been running training centres in the forests in West Champaran and Gaya. "Sophisticated weapons are available at the training camp," the document suggests. Other training centres are reported to be located in Kaimur Hills, Bagaha, Munger and Jamui districts. It also hints at the Maoist plan to loot banks having low security to collect money for purchase of weapons.
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