Digital policing: Now Police stations just a click away!

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 12: Digital policing – taking police officers away from police stations to the community and crime spots – is very much underway in Assam as is the case elsewhere in the country. Under this system all information regarding crimes and criminals can be shared at any moment among any number of police stations in the country, no matter far they are physically apart from one another. Digitally the police stations of the country under this system are just a click away from one another.

The Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) – an umbrella project for facilitating quick data exchange between various pillars of criminal justice system – is the mother of digital policing. Implemented in 2017, ICJS cuts cost and time for sharing information on crimes and criminals. This apart, the system has brought transparency in the criminal-justice system.

In fact, the ICJS has integrated crime and criminal tracking network and systems (CCTNS) for the police. Other key pillars under it are e-court, e-prisons, e-prosecution and e-forensic science laboratory (FSL). The process of CCTNS, which encompasses over 14,000 police stations in the country including 348 of Assam, started this process in 2013.

Under CCTNS as and when an FIR is lodged it should be uploaded. Also uploaded instantly are investigation progress, arrest of persons involved and seizure of property, preparation of case diary and other details. The nodal agency of CCTNS is the CID of the police.

In Assam, an inspector, 27 sub-inspectors, 20 wireless operators and 100 AB constables have been engaged in CCTNS. Though FIR upload within 24 hours of its lodging is a reality in Assam, according to sources, upload of progress of investigations has not been 100 per cent in the State as yet. The sources want to put the blame on the negligence of a section of investigating officers and other officials concerned for the delay in uploading the progress of case investigation.