Latest news with #WitnessProtectionScheme
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Importance of invoking Section 15-A of SC/ST Act highlighted
Director of Prosecution, B. Ramakoteswara Rao, reviewed the progress of cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act pending in special courts from January to June 2025, in a meeting here on Saturday. Addressing joint directors of prosecution, Special Public Prosecutors (SPP) and officials of the Police and Social Welfare departments, Mr. Ramakoteswara Rao said a comprehensive understanding of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including its amendments, the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, and the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 were essential to achieve the best outcomes. He highlighted the importance of invoking Section 15-A of the SC/ST Act and implementing victim protection measures to prevent witnesses from turning hostile. He also stressed on the mandatory use of video recording of witness statements during investigation and trial stages in order to improve the credibility of evidence and reduce the probe errors. Mr. Rao also spoke about filing appeals in cases of acquittal or inadequate sentencing, and the larger goal of delivering justice to the victims, among other aspects.
Hindustan Times
28-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
SIT questions complainant in Dharmasthala mass burial case
The interrogation of a former sanitation worker, who claimed to have buried hundreds of bodies in Dharmasthala village, continued for the second consecutive day on Sunday, with special investigation team (SIT) chief and director general of police (internal security) Pronab Mohanty personally questioning the whistle-blower, officials familiar with the matter said. The team also held detailed discussions with local authorities, scrutinised records of missing persons, and revisited earlier reports of suspicious deaths in the region (File photo) The SIT, which officially took over the case files from local police on July 25, has prioritised verifying the complainant's narrative before moving into more sensitive aspects of the probe. Officers said there are inconsistencies in the complainant's statements to the media and those given to police, thus multiple rounds of questioning is needed to establish a clear timeline. 'The complainant is at the centre of the case and his questioning will be the first step. Based on that, the next course of action will be decided,' an official in the know of the development said on condition of anonymity. The officer added, 'There are inconsistencies in his version of events. Before proceeding further, we need to establish a coherent timeline and verify the facts.' The team also held detailed discussions with local authorities, scrutinised records of missing persons, and revisited earlier reports of suspicious deaths in the region, officials said. Investigators also interacted with residents in and around Dharmasthala and inspected specific sites believed to be associated with the allegations, they said. The complainant, whose identity has been kept confidential, has been granted protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. Local police have also approached the court for permission to conduct brain mapping and narco-analysis tests, though these procedures require the complainant's consent. 'The tests are being considered to assess the veracity of his account. But these will only be done if the complainant agrees and it will not be considered evidence in the court,' an officer said. The SIT, headed by Mohanty, consists of deputy inspector general of police (recruitment) MN Anucheth and IPS officers Soumyalatha SK and Jitendra Kumar Dayama. Twenty police personnel — inspectors, sub-inspectors, head constables and constables — from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada have also been deployed to the SIT. The SIT is currently in the first phase of its investigation, focusing entirely on fact-verification, officials said, adding that the next phase, possibly involving the exhumation of alleged burial sites, will be initiated only after this phase is completed. 'Exhumation depends entirely on what emerges from the first phase,' an officer said. Officials said a dedicated SIT office will soon be established in Dharmasthala to coordinate further action. The present case originated from an FIR registered on July 4, based on a complaint by a former sanitation worker who alleged that he was forced to bury numerous bodies during his tenure in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014. According to the complaint, many of the deceased were allegedly victims of sexual violence and murder. The man also claimed that his own relative had been assaulted, prompting him to flee the town in fear. According to officers, further investigation could include the creation of a database of the potential victims and eventually a DNA database. But the process is expected to be tough. The SIT is also coordinating with local law enforcement to retrieve historical police records, including FIRs and missing persons reports from the period in question. The fact that Dharmasthala didn't have a police station until 2016, complicates this process. Investigators say this effort will involve combing through 20 years of documents, some of which may be incomplete or missing altogether. 'But before we get to that, it all depends on whether he can point out the locations as he claims. Only then will a database be meaningful. We've been told this area was also used to bury unclaimed bodies, so verification is going to be difficult. We're hoping that details from old missing persons cases and information shared with police helplines, especially in instances where first information reports (FIRs) were not registered, will help us build that database,' the officer added. According to investigators, while extracting DNA from remains is possible, finding the match would be tough. But the biggest challenge will be establishing rape and murder as only skeletal remains will remain. (With PTI inputs)
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- The Hindu
SIT takes over burials case, to question complainant
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Director-General of Police Pronab Mohanty, formed to probe the alleged 'sexual abuse, murders and burials' in Dharmasthala, officially took over the case files from the local police on Friday (July 25). Based on a complaint by a former sanitation worker in the temple town that he was allegedly forced to bury several bodies, an FIR was registered on July 4 and SIT was formed on July 19. Sources in SIT said that its first step would be to question the complainant in the case who has been provided protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. 'The complainant is at the centre of the case and his questioning will be the first step and based on that the next course of action will be decided,' a source said. Meanwhile, the local police had sought permission from the court to conduct brain mapping and narco analysis of the complainant, for which he has to give his consent.
New Indian Express
23-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Custodial death: Madras HC orders Rs 25 lakh more to victim's family
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to pay an additional interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family members of B Ajithkumar (29), a temple guard who was allegedly beaten to death by police personnel in Sivaganga last month. This is in addition to the Rs 7.5 lakh that has already been paid by the government to the family. The court further said the direction would not be a bar for the victim's family to seek appropriate compensation before the competent court. During hearing, counsels for the petitioners submitted that the key witnesses in the case have not yet been provided protection as prescribed under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. Recording this, the judges directed the Principal District Judge of Sivaganga to dispose of the witness protection applications, submitted by the above witnesses under the scheme, within seven working days. The counsels further requested the court to direct payment of interim compensation to the injured victims, but it was opposed by the Additional Advocate General (AAG) M Ajmal Khan who said that such a decision should be made only after the CBI files its final report. Concurring with the AAG's opinion, the judges refused to issue such a direction at this stage, but said the victims can approach the authorities concerned for compensation. The AAG also informed the court that the direction to transfer the connected case (relating to the theft of jewels) to the CBI has been complied with. The matter was adjourned to August 20 for further hearing.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Time of India
Pay Rs25L interim relief to kin of custodial case victim: HC to state
Madurai: Madras high court on Tuesday directed the state to pay an interim compensation of 25 lakh, in addition to the 7.5 lakh already paid by the govt to the family members of B Ajith Kumar, who died of custodial torture in Thiruppuvanam in Sivaganga district. The state submitted that, pursuant to the earlier directions issued by the court, the govt transferred another case registered in connection with the gold jewellery theft (based on the complaint of Nikitha), which is connected to the custodial death incident, to the CBI. Necessary assistance is provided to the CBI officials for them to proceed with the investigation. The govt also paid an interim compensation of 7.5 lakh to the family members of the deceased. The CBI submitted that, pursuant to the order of the court, the CBI appointed an investigating officer and a case was registered. The investigating officer collected all necessary evidence and documents and is proceeding with the investigation. The counsel for the petitioners submitted that the compensation awarded to the family is inadequate since higher compensation was awarded by the govt in various other cases, including cases involving custodial torture. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Therefore, they submitted that the compensation should be enhanced. They further submitted that, insofar as providing protection to witnesses, the Witness Protection Scheme 2018 was not implemented. Though police personnel are deployed for the protection of witnesses, there are several other aspects to the scheme. The witnesses submitted applications in the prescribed format, and the same is pending before the Sivaganga principal district judge. A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete observed that the court is of the opinion that the interim compensation of 7.5 lakh paid by the govt is inadequate since the deceased Ajith Kumar was a healthy young person who was aged 29 years and was working in a temple. Hence, the judges directed the state to pay an additional 25 lakh as interim compensation. The judges directed the Sivaganga principal district judge to pass appropriate orders on the application made by key witnesses in the case seeking protection in line with the Witness Protection Scheme, within a week. The judges also directed the CBI to proceed with the investigation and file the final report on or before Aug 20, as per the earlier timeline stipulated by the court. The court passed the order while hearing a batch of petitions filed seeking proper investigation into the custodial death of Ajith Kumar and to provide compensation to the victim's family.
