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Connecting via the new media Law & order

With the popularity of Internet newspapers and magazines shooting up, the police department is devising a method, on a trial basis, to handle complaints received through or cases reported in the electronic media.

Many newspapers and periodicals already have online editions and subscribers. Cases reported on news portals will be now sent to the police officers concerned.

Complaints received at the High Tech Cell at Thiruvananthapuram will be transmitted in digital form to the appropriate authorities via the Commissioner of Police or the Superintendent of Police. The departments will also send a reply in electronic format to the media as well as the aggrieved person.

However, the officers have been instructed to be on guard against spoofing, digital impersonation, digital hoax, frivolous and mischievous complaints. Action cannot be taken against anyone solely on the basis of an unverified digital message.

Senior officials said that investigating officers have to take proper action if the case is reported on e-magazines or e-newspapers. Officers have to check facts to ascertain authenticity.

Investigators will initiate an enquiry in response to a complaint if it prima facie seems vexatious, frivolous and malafide. For registration of a case, some form of undisputed authentication of the identity of the complainant will have to be made available at the police station.

In a serious matter, when on preliminary enquiry, if a complaint is found to be prima facie true and the matter is of a serious cognizable nature, a case will be registered and investigated.

According to an order issued by the Director-General of Police Jacob Punnoose, the system will be continued for the six months after which its efficacy will be reviewed.

An e-mail address is provided to every police station for the purpose. But many complaints are not processed properly. The new system will help to address citizens’ grievances through the new media, according to a senior officer.

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