Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
· Receives 7992 complaints with maximum 1123 from Canada
· Registers 235 cases, Issuance of LOCs against 94
· Set to rope in sociology and psychology experts
Chandigarh, November 8: The NRI Wing of Punjab Police, the brainchild of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has created a record of sorts by disposing of 85.61% of complaints within stipulated time, despite number of complaints registered getting doubled during the same time. Besides this, the arrest of 75 Proclaimed Offenders (POs) and issuance of Look out Circulars (LOCs) for 94 accused NRIs have been set to become big deterrent for any offence or crime against NRIs.
Giving details regarding complaints received by the NRI Wing, Mrs. Gurpreet Deo, IGP/NRI Wing informed that till date the wing has received 7992 complaints, which were more than doubled (109%) than the last year’s figure of 3852 complaints. She said that steep increase in the complaint was due to intensive campaign launched by the NRIPolice wing to come forward to lodge a complaint through website, email or personally generating a confidence amongst NRI regarding the sincerity of Punjab Police to tackle their complaints on priority basis.
She informed that the complaints received from Canada (1123) were the highest followed by UK (763), USA (744), Australia (282) and Italy (219). Out of these 2245 complaints were received through e.mails. She revealed that while disposing of 6842 (85.61%) complaints, 235 cases have been registered under different sections of various acts. LOCs have been got issued against 94 accused to get them arrested immediately after landing on any Indian airport. Besides this, 75 POs have been arrested in different cases registered on the complaints of NRIs and 101 accused have been got declared as new POs. The photographs of NRI POs were also being uploaded on NRI Wing website i.e. www.nripunjabpolice.com, she added.
While giving break up of complaints, the IGP/NRI disclosed that 2455 complaints were related to property disputes. After thorough investigation, 64 cases were registered and compromises were stroked in 422 cases resulting in benefit to the tune of Rs. 100 crore to the aggrieved parties. The NRI wing had also received 664 complaints regarding matrimonial issue and after investigation 73 cases were registered. Out of these, 41 cases were relating to those NRI bridegrooms who had deserted their Indian wives and in 15 cases Indian bridegrooms used their marriages with NRI girls just to secure the visas and eloped immediately after reaching their destinations. Remaining 17 cases were related to domestic violence in matrimonial cases. While sorting out around 100 cases regarding fraudulent marriages, financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 11.50 crore was ensured for girls.
The IGP/NRI Wing further said that 2604 complaints were regarding the issues of financial/property dealings with their own family members, travel agents and property dealers. 36 cases were registered in these cases after thorough investigations.
She pointed out that alternate dispute redressal mechanism was also being used in which community was roped in redressing the complaints of NRIs. Till date compromises or decisions were reached in 84 cases thorough this mechanism. She said that the NRI wing has also initiated the process to rope in experts of Sociology and Psychology from Punjab University, Chandigarh to redress complaints of NRIs regarding fraudulent marriages and other issues more diligently.
Explaining about the functioning of NRI Wing, the IGP/NRI said that any NRI can submit his/her complaint at NRI Wing, Mohali, any NRI Police Station personally or through e.mail at nri.pbpolice@gmail.com, NRI Wing website i.e.www.nripunjabpolice.com or through post. The wing allots a case ID number to each complaint and the complainant can check its status through that number. After that an Inspector rank police officer analyses the complaint before sending it to concerned office or police station. In majority cases, 30 days were the stipulated time frame for redressing the complaint and the complainant was being informed through email.
