Shillong: The Meghalaya government is overhauling police accountability to crush the influence of middlemen. Officials admitted that connections too often override the law at local Thanas. They are now forcing a tech-heavy transition to keep officers honest. The plan includes statewide CCTV coverage and mandatory videography during all searches and seizures.
While the state claims the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 leaves no room for outside meddling, the new reforms target unauthorised interventions directly. Only 81 stations currently have cameras. The government intends to install them in every remaining station. They must save all footage for a set time.
New rules demand forensic teams visit any crime scene involving an offence punishable by seven years or more. To break up local power blocks, the state is rotating station staff and officers-in-charge at regular intervals. The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems is now live in every station. It creates time-stamped records for every FIR. This stops police from burying cases.
Citizens can report corruption through the 112 emergency line, the CM Connect platform, or the Meghalaya Police Citizen Services portal. Complaints go to the Anti-Corruption Branch or the State Vigilance Commissioner, while the Meghalaya Lokayukta remains an independent body for petitions. The government even launched the Meghalaya Village Defence Party Rules, 2025 to cut out intermediaries. Community Liaison Groups will link village elders directly to police stations.
Success depends on enforcement. The government stated there is currently "no scope" for external influence under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Officials promised wider publicity for grievance channels and strict monitoring of resolution timelines.
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