IG admits shortfalls in investigation

Tells court computerised registration of FIRs yet to start at police stations

HYDERABAD:

The Inspector General Sindh Police Ghulam Nabi Memon has acknowledged that computerized registration of the First Information Reports (FIR) is still to start in all the police stations in the province.

Appearing before the Sindh High Court Hyderabad Circuit Bench on Tuesday in multiple cases of murder, the IGP apprised that they are going to float an advertisement about recruitment of 700 data entry operators in a week. He also spoke to the media and a chaired a meeting at DIG Hyderabad's office later.

According to him, the operators will be posted at the stations to carry out the work of the computerized registration. The existing process of handwritten FIRs has been drawing criticism for decades by the legal side and the litigants in addition to the common people who all find the scrawly handwriting difficult to read.

The IGP, nevertheless, claimed that record of the criminals has been digitized. Memon also shared the plan to appoint 2,000 Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASIs) through Sindh Public Service Commission for the investigation wing of the police force. He added that these ASIs will only perform the duty of investigation.

The IGP said they want to digitize the entire investigation branch. He told that the Sindh police have been submitted some proposals before the provincial government about revamping the investigation wing for the last two years. He also pointed out a shortage of law graduate police officers in the province.

Commenting on the menace of dacoits in some districts of Sukkur and Larkana divisions, the IGP argued that only some pockets between Guddu barrage to Sukkur barrage remain bastions of the bandits. He maintained that there was a time when the entire province was in the grips of dacoits.

"The notorious dacoits are being killed every other day. And the policemen are also getting martyred and injured." In a tacit complaint, he suggests that the media should not glorify the outlaws by sharing taking their videos from social media for their news stories. He contended that such a glorification generated an impression that criminals are more powerful than the government.