CM Siddaramaiah expresses concern over declining conviction rate in SC/ST atrocity cases
Bengaluru, Jan 28 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday expressed concern over the declining conviction rate of SC/ST atrocity cases in the state from ten per cent in 2020 to seven per cent in 2024.
During the State Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting at Vidhana Soudha, the CM stressed ensuring justice for the victims in atrocity cases.
"The conviction rate (in SC/ST atrocity cases) was 10 per cent in 2020, which has declined to seven per cent now. Hence, I have said in the meeting that it should be more than 10 per cent," Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting.
He also said that he had directed the police officers to hold regular review meetings with the prosecution lawyers.
The Deputy Commissioners of the districts should hold meetings once in three months without fail, he said.
"I have also asked the DCs to initiate action against the erring officers," Siddaramaiah said.
In the meeting, the ministers, MLAs and MPs raised the issue of backlog.
"Me and the Chief Secretary are holding meeting regarding the backlog and filling the vacant posts. We also discussed in the meeting on reservation in promotion," Siddaramaiah said.
Later, the Chief Minister’s office in a statement said the government prosecutors had been told in the meeting that they must argue effectively in atrocity cases to ensure justice for victims.
Steps should be taken to prevent the accused from easily obtaining bail. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure strict punishment for the guilty.
Charge sheets in atrocity cases must be filed within the stipulated time frame of 60 days, the note said.
There were discussions on the Devadasi system in the state.
"If the Devadasi system exists in any district, the responsibility lies with the District Commissioner and Superintendent of Police. District administrations must take steps to rehabilitate Devadasis and prevent further cases," the statement said.
Describing the practice (Devadasi system) an evil done to women by subjecting them to sexual exploitation and prostitution, the Supreme Court has held it as a serious issue of violation of Right to Life, Dignity and Equality of women, according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The CMO release said the Forest Rights Committees must hold regular meetings and expedite the issuance of title deeds to eligible beneficiaries (forest dwellers). Of the 3,430 pending cases, the process must be completed within a month, it added.
"Once title deeds are issued, the names of beneficiaries must be updated in the land records without delay. Revenue department officials must prioritise this work, and forest dwellers should not be evicted under any circumstances," the CMO said.
The CM told the officers to initiate steps to remove court injunctions in cases filed under the SC/ST Act.
"Charge sheets must be filed within 60 days. Currently, 665 cases are pending investigation, and these must be resolved quickly. Low conviction rates in courts will not be tolerated," the statement said.
Quoting CM, the statement said, "The punishment rate in caste atrocities cases has not been more than three per cent for many decades. For this reason, I have given police station power to Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) cells. How come the punishment rate has not increased yet?"
Siddaramaiah also instructed the officials to discuss with the prosecution if the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases are pending in the courts for a long time and take steps for speedy disposal and speedy justice, the statement said.
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TMC backs 'tukde-tukde' gang that threatened to snap Siliguri Corridor for appeasement politics: PM
Siliguri (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday alleged the "tukde-tukde" gang had threatened to snap the strategic Siliguri Corridor to cut off the Northeast from the rest of the country, and the TMC gave them support from "the streets to Parliament" to serve its "appeasement politics".
Addressing an election rally at the Kawakhali ground in the northern West Bengal city of Siliguri, he described the TMC as an "anti-tribal, anti-women and anti-youth party".
Its appeasement politics have caused untold misery to the state, Modi alleged.
"The country has a 'tukde-tukde' gang, and it threatened to cut off the Siliguri Corridor. They wanted to separate the Northeast from the country.
"The TMC, which indulges in appeasement politics, supports such people from the streets to Parliament. That is the real face of TMC," he alleged, addressing his eighth rally in the state since assembly elections were declared.
The Siliguri Corridor, also known as the 'Chicken's Neck', is a narrow stretch of land in the northern part of Bengal, not more than 20-22 km wide, acting as the only land link between mainland India and its eight northeastern states.
It is a critical and highly vulnerable geopolitical bottleneck bordered by Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and is barely 130 km from the China border.
Terming it "the nation's corridor of defence as well as prosperity", Modi said the Centre was working round the clock to strengthen and develop the region on a massive scale, citing the under-construction Sevoke-Rangpo railway line, connecting Sikkim with Siliguri.
"The project will strengthen trade and tourism in the region, directly benefiting the youth of Darjeeling," he said.
Urging people to vote for a 'double-engine' government, Modi said Bengal will witness development at double the speed once the BJP assumes power in the state.
Harping on the TMC's "appeasement politics", the PM alleged that while the Mamata Banerjee government has earmarked Rs 6,000 crore in the state budget for the development of Madrassas, the fund allotted for the entire north Bengal region is "nowhere sufficient".
"The people of Bengal are now seeking answers from the TMC for every moment it spent in power over the last 15 years," Modi said, asserting that when the BJP comes to power, it will make the Mamata Banerjee-led party "pay for its misdeeds".
He alleged that the TMC has destroyed the state during its 15-year tenure and halted the implementation of Central schemes like the one for providing piped drinking water to remote tribal areas.
As a result, less than 25 per cent of the work could be completed so far, the prime minister claimed.
Terming the Mamata Banerjee government 'nirmam' (cruel), an obvious antonym to the chief minister's name, the PM said the people of the state have had enough of the TMC's "reign of fear", accusing its dispensation of bringing sufferings to the fledgling tea gardens of north Bengal.
Modi called the TMC an "anti-north Bengal and anti-tea garden party", and alleged that unbridled illegal entries caused by its "appeasement policies" are causing major demographic changes in the region, disrupting social balance and fostering unwanted changes in language and culture.
"Infiltrators are eating into local jobs. It will be too late if the menace is not stopped right away. That's why mantra is 'Kamal khilao, ghuspetia bhagao' (vote for lotus and drive infiltrators away)," he said, referring to the BJP's election symbol.
The PM highlighted the Centre's infrastructure and connectivity development initiatives for north Bengal, while alleging that the TMC government is putting up hurdles before those projects.
"A crucial stretch of the Porbandar to Silchar East-West corridor passing through Bengal is yet to be completed," he said,
Modi also underlined the BJP's promises of a special development package for north Bengal, which comprises modern engineering and medical colleges, a cancer treatment hospital and a fashion design institute.
While stating that Bengal has already given the Congress, the Left and the TMC chances to rule the state, Modi urged the people to give the BJP an opportunity to "revive its development trajectory".
"Give Modi a chance to ensure the security of the daughters, to save Bengal from infiltrators and to provide jobs to youth within the state.
"Give Modi a chance to resurrect investment, establish the rule of law, to ensure free healthcare and homes for the poor, to elevate the state from a rule of fear to a climate of trust and rescue Bengal's culture from the TMC's appeasement politics," the PM said.
Modi said the energy he had been witnessing among the people of Bengal has convinced him that the TMC's defeat is certain in the upcoming elections.
"My short travel from the Badgodra airport to the hotel on Saturday ended up becoming a 15-km roadshow as thousands of people, including children and senior citizens, lined up. It blew my mind and humbled me," he said.
"As a return gift to the blessings you have showered on me, I promise to dedicate my life to you and will keep fighting for you till my last breath," he said.
The PM was campaigning for BJP candidates in Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, where polling will be held in the first phase on April 23. The second phase of polling is on April 29, and the votes will be counted on May 4.
