The city police on Saturday launched mobile investigation units that could help investigators examine suspects, witnesses and victims closer to the spot inside a van with a professional set up, police officers said.
An officer in Lalbazar said each unit would have computers, desks and preliminary investigation tools that could be taken to any crime spot or place of occurrence.
“With the mobile investigation units, now witnesses and the accused could be taken to the spot and examined. It would be very helpful in the investigation,” said Calcutta police commissioner Vineet Goyal at the launch of the vehicles at the Alipore Bodyguard Lines.
At present, Calcutta police have launched 10 such units, nine of which would be given to the nine police divisions for their use.
One would be kept at Lalbazar for the use of the detective department.
A senior officer in Lalbazar said the cops often face the problem of interrogating women witnesses or suspects as there are legal restrictions on summoning them to police stations or at Lalbazar.
A woman cannot be summoned to a police station or arrested after sunset, according to the rulebook.
Similarly, a woman cannot be forced to visit a police station for an examination even if she is a suspect or a prime witness in a crime. In such cases, cops often have to examine them at their home.
“We are expecting that this problem can be solved to a large extent if we can reach at their doorsteps instead of asking them to come over. The investigation units have a professional set up where officers can sit and examine people, record statements and even access data online,” said the officer.
The launch was a part of the Nirbhaya Project implemented by the city police, a senior officer said.
The mobile units that will have CCTV inside, could also be used for setting up mini control-rooms from a spot where a law-and-order programme is scheduled, another officer at Lalbazar told Metro.
The city police also launched 18 mobile toilets and four mobile kitchens for the convenience of the police officers who have to perform on-road duty for several hours at a stretch.