Patna, April 28: Bihar police will introduce a separate investigation wing in police stations from May 1 to ensure effective and time-bound investigation.

The investigation wing will be independent and concentrate only on scientific investigation and collection of credible evidence so that findings can stand the test of law. Besides, there will be another exclusive law and order duty wing of the police.

In the first stage, the investigation wing will be set up in Patna. The new system of policing will formally come into effect from May 1. Chief minister Nitish Kumar had at a function of the criminal investigation department (CID) in Patna on March 28 announced the creation of separate wings for investigation into criminal cases and maintenance of law and order at the police station-level.

“The new system will be introduced in the state capital’s 23 police stations as a pilot project. If it is successfully implemented and yields desired results, it will be introduced in other districts also,” said director-general of police Abhayanand. He said the role of the two wings has already been defined.

According to the order issued by the state police headquarters, each team of the investigation wing would comprise two sub-inspectors, two assistant sub-inspectors, two havildars and four constables. They will be equipped with video camera, investigation kits, vehicles and other gadgets.

The investigation team will deal with murder, kidnapping, crime against women, child trafficking, loot and bank fraud cases. The team members will be in no case assigned other work,” a police officer said, adding that deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) will review the performance of the investigation team members on a monthly basis. The senior superintendent of police will assess their performance on the basis of the DSPs’ reports. The senior superintendent of police will issue instructions to the investigating officers if any lapse is found in the probe. But the order clarified that previous cases will be probed by investigation officers. The wing will be assigned fresh cases only.

Both teams will work under station house officers’ supervision. The officer on duty will man the law and order team that would comprise two sub-inspectors, four assistant sub-inspectors, four havildars and 24 constables.

If required, anti-riot team will assist the law and order team in maintaining law and order problem. Anti-riot forces will be attached to the police stations. The police order says after an incident of crime is reported to the police station, the law and order team members will reach the spot with video camera and investigation kits, take photographs, record the statements of eyewitnesses and chase the perpetrators of crime.

The job of the investigation team will start after the return of the law and order team from the scene of crime. “The law and order wing will collect prime facie evidence. The investigation wing will later visit the spot and then start investigation,” a senior police officer said.

The police stations selected for the pilot project of the new system of policing are Kotwali, Buddha Colony, Patliputra, Digha, Gandhi Maidan, Kadamkuan, Kankerbagh, Pirbhore, SK Puri, Secretariat, Shastrinagar, Gardanibagh, Sultanganj, Alamganj, Agamkuan, Khajekala, Didarganj, City Chowk, Malsalami, Jakkanpur, Danapur, Khagaul and Phulwarisharif.