Telangana: A two days’ workshop which is on 13th and 14th of February 2020 has been inaugurated at NRI Cell, Women Safety Wing, Telangana aiming at Capacity building and to bring convergence among Investigating Officers, Public Prosecutors and Complainants/victims in harassment cases where spouses/relatives cited as accused in criminal cases are NRIs.
At the workshop, Telangana State IT Cell has launched its voice over application through voice messages first ever by Women Safety Wing on precautions to be taken while choosing an NRI groom and voice message on Telangana State SHE Team WhatsApp number. Also, an informative brochure, as well as a pamphlet on Services of Telangana State NRI Cell, was inaugurated.
The workshop is to bring awareness on knowing your case/Investigating Officer in select cases in the presence of Public Prosecutor & I.Os, the complainant is made to know the status and progress of each case professionally.
The NRI Cell which was inaugurated on 17th July 2019, received 73 petitions so far. Follow up is done and ensured to get registered cases in 70 petitions. Of them, 29 cases are under investigation and 41 cases are pending trial. In 5 cases, LOCs were executed against NRI spouses and in 6 cases, Passports of the NRI accused were impounded. In 3 cases where chances are found for reunion/separation, this cell has interacted with both parties and facilitated to proceed as per law.
Mrs. Swati Lakra, IPS, IGP, L&O I/c Women safety Wing, TS, Mrs. B. Sumathi, IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mrs. Vaijayanthi, Director of Prosecutions, Mr. K. Srinath Reddy, Dy.SP, TSP IT Cell, Mrs. S. Komalatha Subbaiah, Sr. APP, Mr. Daniel Kumar, APP, and Mrs. P. Aparna, APP, TSPA attended the inaugural function of NRI workshop on Capacity building and Convergence on NRI cases.
Mrs. Swati Lakra, IPS, IGP, L&O I/c Women Safety Wing after inaugurating the workshop said that standard operating procedures to be followed during the investigation, have been prepared and duly followed in all NRI cases, brief notes in a 17 column proforma are being obtained from the Unit Officers within a time frame to fulfill the gaps found during the investigation. After the formation of this cell, the liaison has been established with various stakeholders National Commission for Women, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, NGOs in respective countries working on NRI issues, General Administration Department, Telangana State, and Regional Passport Officer regularly to follow up. Such liaison is helping the victims to address these agencies directly and also put pressure on their spouses residing abroad. Legal guidance is being provided to Investigating Officers (I.Os) & the victims with the help of a panel of experts of NRI Cell regularly on case to case basis.
Mrs. B. Sumathi, IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police in her welcome address explained NRI Cell and its team’s efforts for their Capacity building and gap-filling exercise which has been undertaken since its formation 5 months ago to able to act as ‘an effective co-coordinating agency’ between Investigating Officers and victims.
Mrs. Vaijayanthi, Director of Prosecutions said that the Public Prosecutors will extend their support to the investigating officers.
During the workshop, a couple whose case is in Alwal Police Station, which was co-ordinated through NRI Cell was reconciled. They came forward to appeal to the victims and NRI spouses (cited as accused) to utilize “existing mechanisms in the state” for effectively resolving the cases. The victim said that the NRI Cell, Women Safety Wing made all efforts to reunite her with her husband and that for two months, they are living together happily with their daughter.
