Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has given important directions to the state police officers as he addressed a high-level meeting of the law enforcement officials from across the state. In the meeting that was held to ensure an effective police force to control crime and drug menace, the Chief Minister took stock of the law and order situation in the state. 

MK Stalin has directed the police officers not to ignore the alerts issued by the state intelligence and 'Q' branch and instructed them to follow such alerts by field investigations. He addressed the meeting on Thursday - January 19 and his remarks have aligned to address the controversy after the Coimbatore car blast in the state that happened on October 23, 2022. 

Slamming the ruling DMK government, the opposition parties have alleged that crucial intelligence inputs about the suspect were ignored by the police. MK Stalin has advised the Commissioner to follow up on intelligence alerts. He said that the intelligence alerts issued by the state intelligence and Q branch should be immediately followed by field investigation. 

The Chief Minister further said that the police commissioners should work in coordination with the state police headquarters. During the meeting, MK Stalin instructed the police officers to draw the schemes to reform first-time offenders. The meeting had a discussion to general law and order issues on reducing accidents, securing convictions in POCSO cases, not to make hasty arrests in mutual romantic relationships under the POCSO Act. 

According to an officer, the Chief Minister has expressed his concern about the low conviction rate in cases related to crimes committed against the SC/ST communities. MK Stalin has asked the police to investigate the cases in a paced manner and noted that any delay in filing the chargesheet will become an obstacle in delivering justice. He also directed the police to keep an eye on the elements that are against the communal harmony in the state. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Irai Anbu, Home Secretary Phanindra Reddy, and Director-General of Police Sylendra Babu.