NEWS – Karnataka cabinet ok’s Establishment of DCRE Police Stations in Karnataka

HIGHLIGHTS

• Purpose: Protect civil rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs)
• Initial Establishment: Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) established in 1974

New Developments

• Decision: State Cabinet to designate 33 DCRE units as DCRE police stations
• Recruitment: 450 personnel to be recruited for various postings

Distribution of Police Stations

• General Distribution: One DCRE police station per district
• Bengaluru: Two DCRE police stations
• Leadership: Each station headed by a DySP/ACP

Objectives

• Timely and Quality Investigations: Atrocity cases to be registered and investigated in DCRE stations for better outcomes
• Coordination: Home and Social Welfare departments to frame operational modalities

Historical Context

• Central Legislation: SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act enacted in 1989
• Previous Implementation: Atrocity cases handled by overburdened local police

Current Challenges

• Investigation Delays: Local police unable to complete investigations within 60 days
• Witness Issues: Delayed prosecution leads to witnesses turning hostile
• Low Conviction Rate: Current conviction rate stands at 4% (68 cases)

Expected Improvements

• Specialized Focus: DCRE police stations to provide focused and dedicated investigation efforts
• Improved Convictions: Aim to improve the conviction rate and overall justice delivery for atrocity cases against SCs and STs