Non-lethal weapons
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the commission’s work, particularly its focus on recommending the use of non-lethal weapons to prevent tragedies like those during the July uprising. “Our ultimate goal is to ensure that no life is lost, even in small-scale incidents,” he said.
Acknowledging the deep-rooted problem of political influence on law enforcement agencies, Safar Raj, a retired secretary, said that when a political government comes to power, it tends to consolidate control over all institutions, including the police.
“The issue is complex and wide. You cannot just pull out police from this,” he said.
“There will be recommendations on the entire matter, which I cannot summarise in a single word,” he said when asked if their report would include suggestions to free the police from political influence.
During its 15-year rule, the previous AL government used law enforcement as a tool to suppress opposition and dissent. Some police officers acted as party loyalists, securing lucrative postings and engaging in corruption, sidelining competent officers. During the July-August protests, police indiscriminately used lethal weapons, causing massive casualties.
The chief of the Police Reform Commission stressed the importance of reducing corruption and ensuring accountability through exemplary punishments for offenders. “If law enforcers face tough consequences for wrongdoing, others will refrain from engaging in similar misconduct.”
He also highlighted the role of civil society and the general public in holding officials accountable, drawing comparisons with practices in advanced democracies.
Safar Raj said the commission would recommend the use of force in line with UN guidelines and the standards of European countries, which employ modern technologies for crowd control to prevent loss of life, even if injuries occur.
Noting that police officers deployed to UN missions receive training in non-lethal techniques, he hoped that similar training could be organised for all officers gradually.
The commission’s report will propose guidelines following High Court Division and Appellate Division directives regarding arrests without warrants under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the treatment of individuals on remand under Section 167 of the CrPC.
These directives include: police officers must disclose their identity and present ID cards after arresting the suspects; reasons for arrests must be recorded in a register; relatives of the arrestee must be informed within an hour; detainees should have access to a lawyer or relatives; no torture of the arrestees during interrogation on remand; interrogations during remand must occur in a designated room with a transparent glass wall, where a lawyer or relative can observe the proceedings.
The commission chief said amendments to existing laws of 1898 may be necessary, a responsibility that would fall to the law ministry.
On the demand for operations of police under a commission, he said a proposal for such a commission has been pending since 2007 as laws were not enacted in this regard during the then caretaker government and the past 15 years of political government.
“We are making recommendations, but there needs to be political will to implement those,” he said, mentioning that parliament is not functional now, so an ordinance can be promulgated to implement their recommendations.
He said they have received a proposal from the inspector general of police that suggests a commission like that of Sri Lanka, where the National Police Commission is vested with wide powers pertaining to the appointment, promotion, transfers, disciplinary control and dismissal of police commissioners.
Replying to another query about public complaints against police, he said it was a very important issue and that the reform commission would bring this up in its report so that the complaints against police officers could be addressed properly.