Mysuru: Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) Chairman D.H. Waghela regretted that the accused in many cases are going scot-free because of lack of protection to witnesses.

He was speaking at the valedictory of workshop on ‘Making cities safe for women and children,’ organised by Global Concerns India and Hans Seidel, at Karnataka Police Academy (KPA) here yesterday.

Bemoaning that the accused are not getting convicted and sentenced because of lack of protection to witnesses, Waghela expressed disappointment about the very low rate of convictions (4.3 percent) in criminal cases.

Noting that law-enforcing agencies would not be their worth if there is less than 60 percent convictions, Waghela underlined the need for advocates to show their professionalism in getting the culprits appropriately punished for their offence.

KPA Director Vipul Kumar said that witnesses are often scared to depose in Courts for want of protection and as such, the accused are escaping punishment.