Govt. empowers graduate constables, Havildars of Odisha Police to probe cases

Cuttack, Jan 4:  The State Government today empowered qualified Graduate Constables and Criminal Intelligence Havildars of Odisha Police to probe certain cases.

A proposal in this regard given by DGP RP Sharma on January 27 last year has been approved by the Odisha Government.

These Graduate Constables and CI Havildars can now proceed to the spot to investigate facts and circumstances of the case and if necessary can take measures for recovery and arrest of offenders.

The DGP lauded the decision and hoped that it would certainly help in prompt and quality investigation of cases with massive backlog clearance at the Police Station level.

 It would also help in increasing the conviction rate which is not encouraging at present due to paucity of quality investigation officers in the State Police Force, he said.

These Graduate Constables and CI Havildars can now be given the charge of investigation of certain petty offences under certain Minor Acts having punishment up to 3 years like The Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act-1955, The Odisha Fire Works and Loud-Speaker (Regulation) Act-1958, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act-2015, motor cycle theft, cases under Excise Act and other local Acts etc, said an official release.

For effective implementation of the order, these Graduate Constable and C I Havildar will be trained about all aspects of investigation, starting from registration of FIR, writing of case diaries till submission of final form in the case.

There will be 4 to 5 week institutional training at any recognized Police Training institutions and after that they will be given field training in the Police Station for a period of at least 45 days.

An examination will be conducted after completion of the training and power of investigation will be conferred to the eligible Graduate Havildar and Constables who successfully qualify the examination.

“The entrustment of such power to these two ranks shall not only broaden the pool of officers doing investigation but shall also lead to better investigation as the I.O, with lesser no. of cases will have more time to devote to a case. This will also be a big moral booster to personnel in these ranks and will improve their overall team spirit,” said the DGP.