Centre announces advanced technology based platform to deal with new age criminals

New Delhi: The government of India on Wednesday announced the launch of a new advanced platform with improved technology that helps in tracking criminal records and anti-social activities. With the help of the intelligence bureau acting as the nodal agency, police stations can access criminal records.

10 user agencies and 21 service providers are currently connected to the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) in the initial phase.

Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), Directorate General of Central Excise and Intelligence (DGCEI) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) are the agencies that get connected during the launch. No state agencies will be given direct access to the NATGRID.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier curated the idea of improvising technology for collecting criminal database. The system, according to Modi, should also be able to develop case studies by analysing police-related incidents.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvinda Kumar, DRDO chairperson G Satheesh Reddy, NTRO chairman Anil Dhasmana, CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, BSF Director General Pankaj Singh, CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh, and Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana reviewed the performance of the project on Tuesday.

Other tracking systems implemented by the central government includes the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) for registering FIRs, and the National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) which includes the details of more than 10.69 lakh sexual offenders in the country.