Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Branch has issued a circular to SPs, DIG and Commissionerate Police to ensure safety of witnesses, since they are vulnerable to threat and influence from criminals and accused.
Crime Branch ADG Santosh Upadhyay informed that public prosecutors had requested the police to provide protection to witnesses as some of them were being threatened by the criminals and the accused, at a conference held recently. Considering the request,
the Crime Branch has issued a 15-point circular to the aforesaid police officers, he added.
As per the circular, the investigating officer (IO) will accompany the witnesses to the court on the day of hearing.
In cases, where the victims are witnesses, interaction between them and the accused should be avoided. The police officers will arrange separate transportation for the victims and the accused while taking them for medical examinations, which should also be conducted separately. Policemen should be deployed for the safety and security of the victims, the circular added.
Besides, police protection should be provided to the witnesses if there are any threats to their lives. If necessary, police should provide assistance and logistic support to the witnesses during trials in courts.
The circular has directed the police to book the accused under Section 195 (A) of IPC if they are found influencing or threatening the witnesses.
The IOs of sensitive cases should be advised to sensitise the witnesses to remain vigilant and inform local police if they face any trouble while providing evidence in the courts. Besides, a dedicated team of police officers at district levels should be constituted to monitor day-to-day court proceedings in criminal cases, it said.
The circular also laid emphasis on setting up of counselling centres and rest sheds for the witnesses. To encourage the witnesses to depose before the courts without any favour, awareness programmes should be organised, it pointed out.
Apart from this, it has suggested for examining the witnesses through video conferencing as permissible under the law while in sensational cases, the courts can be approached for imposing conditions on the accused for not threatening the witnesses while they are out on bail.
