Shillong, Aug 14: Low conviction rates in Meghalaya are part of a wider national issue and stem from shortcomings across the entire criminal justice system, including delayed trials, weak forensic support and inadequate public cooperation, retired police officer Mariahom Kharkrang has said.
Responding to questions by reporters on the subject, Kharkrang said the problem cannot be attributed to any single institution, but rather to multiple factors ranging from investigation and prosecution to witness participation.
“I would not say it is only in Meghalaya. This is happening all over India,” Kharkrang said, adding that various committees and experts have already made several recommendations to improve the criminal justice system.
He pointed out that one of the major reasons behind low conviction rates is the long delay in trials, which often affects the reliability of witness testimonies.
“There have been cases where I was a witness 20 years ago and I am getting the summons now,” he said.
According to Kharkrang, while trained officials may have ways to refresh their memory, ordinary citizens often find it difficult to recall details of incidents that occurred many years earlier. This can weaken the prosecution’s case, especially when key witnesses are unable to accurately recount events from the crime scene.
“Once the statements of key witnesses are in doubt or they are not able to spell out exactly what happened, it destroys the whole case,” he said.
Kharkrang also stressed the need to strengthen forensic capabilities, particularly Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs), in view of the growing complexity of crimes, including cybercrime and online fraud.
He said modern crimes require more advanced investigative techniques and that law enforcement agencies must continuously upgrade their skills and resources.
“The kind of investigations that were carried out earlier are totally different from the kind of cases coming up now. The police have to be one step ahead of the criminals if they want to succeed,” he said.
When asked whether the judiciary was responsible for the low conviction rate, Kharkrang said the issue should not be viewed as the failure of any one institution. “It is the whole system itself — right from investigation to trial,” he said.
He also underlined the role of the public in ensuring successful prosecutions, noting that police often face difficulties in finding independent witnesses willing to come forward. “The independent witness is me and you. If we do not come forward to witness a crime, then who will?” Kharkrang said.
