State mulls law to protect policemen

HT Correspondent

HT Correspondent

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MIUMBAI: To better protect cops from attacks they have faced recently, state government is mulling a special law and stringent implementation of the existing acts. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has also said the cases of attack on police officers will be fast-tracked to ensure that the culprits are punished severely.

After two meetings were held between the employees’ union, the CM and the chief secretary, the state assured the representatives of the employees that they will enact a special law. They also said they will consider amending Representation of Peoples Act and state level laws to make provision for suspension of elected representatives who attack government servants including policemen.

“The increasing number of attacks on cops is a great cause of concern. We are serious about the new law and stringent implementation of the existing provisions to protect on-duty cops from being targeted while on duty,” chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya told HT.

They also decided to put up boards in police stations and government offices highlighting the punishment. Fadnavis, on Friday, in a TV interview, said such cases will be fast-tracked. “Presently, the attackers get out scot-free. We will ensure that they get severe punishment,” the CM said.

The next meeting is on September 29. “The next round of discussions with the CM is to be held on September 29 and we are hopeful that the state will take a positive decision,” said GD Kulthe, of Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers Federation.