299. Inquiries into unnatural and suspicious deaths. First information to be submitted. [§ 12, Act V, 1861].
(a)Immediately after receipt of information of a death occurring in any of the circumstances mentioned in section 174, Code of Criminal Procedure, a First Information Form shall be submitted in B.P. Form No. 48. The information shall be recorded in the same manner as a first information in the case of cognizable crime.(b)A Sub-Inspector, Assistant Sub-Inspector or head constable shall then proceed to the place where the body of the deceased person is, and after making the investigation prescribed in section 174, Code of Criminal Procedure, and making such further enquiry as may be necessary shall submit his final report to the nearest Magistrate empowered to hold inquests. The investigation report, signed by the police officer and two or more respectable persons, as required by section 174 of that Code shall be attached to the final report. (See regulation 300.)(c)Case diaries shall be submitted in enquiries into unnatural or suspicious deaths only if the enquiry lasts more than one day. But if the police officer making the enquiry finds reason to suspect the commission of a cognizable offence, the enquiry becomes one under section 157, Code of Criminal Procedure and case diaries shall be submitted.(d)Where several persons meet their death by the same accident, there shall be a separate report on each body, but not necessarily a separate first information or final report.(e)One copy of the First Information Report and final report shall be kept at the police-station. The number of the corresponding entry in the death register and register of persons killed by wild animals shall be noted at the top.(f)The following procedure shall be observed in connection with deaths occurring in hospitals situated in Calcutta from injuries sustained within the jurisdiction of the Bengal Police; -In all cases where a person seriously injured is sent from a mufassil police-station to a hospital in the town or suburbs of Calcutta, a note showing brief facts of the case together with names and addresses of witnesses who will prove facts in connection with the injury should be sent by the Bengal Police-station concerned to the officer-in-charge of the Calcutta Police section where the hospital is situated. Further, a relation of the injured man or a constable of the Bengal Police-station concerned should stay in the hospital or in the neighbourhood in order to identify the body at the time of post-mortem in case of death.The investigation shall be held by the officer-in-charge of the Calcutta Police section, before whom the officer-in-charge of the Bengal Police-station concerned shall produce all available evidence to enable him to arrive at a definite conclusion regarding the cause of death.
