Shillong: Meghalaya may currently have a low conviction rate, but the state has the potential to emerge as a model for justice delivery in the country, Inspector General of Police (CID) Aditya Goenka said on Thursday.
Speaking to EastMojo on the sidelines of the Navin Nyaya Sanhita Exhibition at the State Convention Centre in Shillong, Goenka said Meghalaya’s relatively low crime rate provided an opportunity to strengthen the criminal justice system through improved investigations, enhanced forensic support and better coordination among stakeholders.
He said the state was fortunate to have one of the lowest incidences of crime, particularly violent crime, in the country and noted that improvements in processes and systems could help Meghalaya become a model for access to justice not only in the Northeast but across India.
The exhibition, organised by Meghalaya Police, aimed to create awareness about the three new criminal laws and the reforms introduced under them. Students, community members and other stakeholders attended the event, where various agencies involved in the criminal justice system showcased their work.
Goenka said the new laws had introduced fixed timelines, improved procedures and a greater role for technology and forensic science in criminal investigations. He added that the exhibition was intended to familiarise students and the public with the functioning of the criminal justice system and the reforms brought under the new legal framework.
The exhibition featured demonstrations by emergency response teams, crime scene investigation units, forensic experts, fingerprint specialists, the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) and the K9 squad.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, the CID chief said justice delivery depended on the coordinated functioning of multiple institutions and stakeholders. He stressed that policing was only one component of the justice system and that effective coordination was necessary to ensure justice reached every citizen.
Addressing concerns over Meghalaya’s low conviction rate, Goenka acknowledged the challenge but said the figures needed to be viewed in context. According to him, a significant proportion of cases registered in the state involved petty theft, offences that are generally difficult to detect and prosecute, thereby affecting overall conviction statistics.
However, he noted that conviction rates in serious crimes, including offences against children and other violent crimes, were comparatively better.
Goenka said faster forensic examination would be critical to improving investigations and convictions, particularly in cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He explained that timely DNA analysis was essential in child sexual abuse cases, while prompt forensic reports were necessary for filing charge sheets in narcotics-related offences.
The senior officer also highlighted Meghalaya Police’s efforts to digitise records and improve data management through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
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He said the department had significantly reduced the backlog of pending records in the system, bringing the number down from around 56,000 cases to approximately 3,143. Improved access to accurate and real-time data, he added, would help the police focus resources more effectively and improve outcomes.
Expressing optimism about future improvements, Goenka said the impact of the ongoing reforms would take time to become visible. He added that conviction rates and overall justice delivery were expected to improve as the new processes and systems became fully operational.
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