Police to train officers to handle criminal cases

Panaji: With the aim to improve convictions in criminal cases, Goa police has decided to provide training to its investigation officers. The director general of police (DGP) Jaspal Singh directed the police prosecutor at the Police Training School to develop training modules.

The meeting was held at police headquarters to discuss ways and means to improve the conviction rate in criminal cases.

The meeting was jointly presided over by the director general of police (DGP) and the director of prosecution (DoP). SPs North and South, SP crime and senior prosecutors attended the meeting.

The prosecutors highlighted the various lacunae in the investigation conducted by the investigating officers (IOs). Similarly, the SPs also expressed their difficulties in completing investigations. The DoP suggested various ways in which investigation can be improved, including training the investigation officers.

Singh directed the police prosecutor at Police Training School to develop training modules based on the feedback provided by the senior prosecutors and DoP.

He also directed the SPs to ensure that chargesheets are submitted well in time to prosecutors so that shortcomings in investigation are rectified in time. He also assured prosecutors of all assistance in improving coordination between investigation officers and prosecutors.

The DGP further stated that nodal officers would be appointed in courts to follow up on the progress of trials and that the SPs would also monitor the trial in important cases to improve conviction.

For the past couple of years, in many criminal cases courts have acquitted the accused based on lack of evidence.

Recently, a North Goa court acquitted an accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act after the prosecution failed to prove the case. The court found that there was no explanation coming forth from the prosecution regarding dextropropoxyphene, which was allegedly seized at a raid in Mapusa in 2013.

In May 2021, additional sessions court judge Kshama Joshi acquitted Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal for allegedly sexually assaulting his colleague in a starred hotel in Goa in 2013.