115/2024-2025

Aizawl the 19th June, 2024 : The three new major criminal laws - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) shall come into force with effect from 1st July 2024 throughout the territory of India. The BNS replaces the Indian Penal Code 1860, the BNSS replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and the BSA replaces the Indian Evidence Act 1872. Notably, BNS has 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 of them. The penalty of community service has been introduced for six crimes and mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes. Under the BNSS, police custody has been increased from 15 days to 90 days, depending on the nature of the offense. BNSS will have 531 sections (in place of 484 sections of CrPC).

Various steps have been taken by Mizoram Police for smooth implementation of the three new laws.

  • All out efforts in capacity building and training on sensitization of new criminal laws for police personnel of various districts and units were made. Further, Training Branch, PHQ coordinated with BPR&D, Govt. Mizoram Law College, Mizoram Forensic Science Laboratory for strengthening capacity building efforts. MoU with Mizoram University will be put into action by collaborating efforts in capacity building of police personnel, judicial officers and other government officials.
  • 5 Oversight Committees on 1) Legal Issues, 2) Technology Upgradation, 3) Training, 4) Digital Investigation and 5) Financial Implications were formed under Mizoram Police for suggesting and recommending on legal aspects, infrastructural requirements and financial implications involved in implementation of the three new laws in the state. Infrastructural requirement with financial implication for implementation of the three new criminal laws amounting to Rs.13.4 Crores was submitted to the Govt. of Mizoram on 20.03.2024
  • Technical team from NCRB had visited Mizoram and successfully tested patches for 3 new laws in offline CCTNS system. Training was given to knowledge Partners and deployed successfully in all Police Stations.
  • SsP Aizawl, Champhai, Lunglei, Lawngtlai and Saitual have been directed to start the process of videography of the crime scene on a pilot basis in all heinous offences.
  • Educational and awareness videos on the salient features of the new criminal laws were prepared for consumption by police personnel as well as the general public. Relevant literature and required books were procured and distributed to all concerned units to make the material readily available. Compendium of Forms for IOs prepared by Delhi Police and FAQs on the three new laws prepared by other police organisations were modified as suitable for Mizoram and circulated to all units/IOs.
  • Mizoram Police had procured 4 (four) nos. of Mobile Forensic Vans and stationed at four district headquarters viz. Aizawl, Lunglei, Champhai and Kolasib. Mizoram Forensic Science Laboratory is procuring another 10 (ten) Mobile Forensic Vans and are expected to deliver soon. The department had submitted proposal to the state government to recruit trained forensic persons to man the mobile vans as 4 persons per vehicle. The department further proposed to create 5 nos. of District Mobile Forensic Units for the districts of Aizawl, Lunglei, Champhai, Kolasib and Lawngtlai.
  • All districts SsP are conducting awareness campaigns at churches, educational institutions, NGOs etc.