New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today inaugurated the BHARATPOL portal developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to connect investigative agencies and the police of all states seamlessly to the INTERPOL network of 195 countries, thereby expediting investigations.
The five key modules of BHARATPOL – Connect, INTERPOL Notices, References, Broadcast, and Resources – provide a technological platform to support all our law enforcement agencies.
Shah explained that through ‘Connect’, all law enforcement agencies will essentially function as an extension of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB-New Delhi). He added that the system will ensure quick, secure, and structured transmission of requests for INTERPOL ‘Notices’, enabling a scientific mechanism to swiftly locate criminals from India and across the globe, within India. He highlighted that the INTERPOL ‘References’ from 195 countries will make it much simpler to seek and provide international assistance for investigations abroad. He mentioned that requests for assistance from 195 countries will now be immediately available through the ‘Broadcast’ module, while the ‘Resources’ module will facilitate the exchange and management of documents and capacity-building initiatives.
The Union Home Minister highlighted the portal’s key feature — a real-time interface — that will enable seamless and effective communication among agencies to enhance crime control measures. The portal will significantly expedite responses to domestic and international requests for real-time data sharing, including the issuance of Red Corner Notices and other alerts through a global network. He noted that, for years, criminals committing crimes in India and fleeing to other countries have evaded the reach of Indian laws. However, with the implementation of modern systems like BHARATPOL, such criminals can now be brought within the ambit of justice.
Referring to the provision of Trial in Absentia in the three new criminal laws that enables the prosecution of fugitive criminals even in their absence through court orders while ensuring a fair judicial process, Shah explained that this provision will simplify the process of extraditing convicted criminals from foreign countries to India. He emphasized that, combined with the capabilities of the BHARATPOL portal, this will empower Indian law enforcement agencies to bring fugitives to justice, no matter where they hide. He urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take the lead in implementing BHARATPOL and ensuring its widespread training at the grassroots level. This, he said, will strengthen the judicial system, enhance transparency, and improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement efforts.
As the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India (NCB-New Delhi), the CBI plays a pivotal role in facilitating international cooperation on criminal cases in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies across the country. This coordination extends across the central, state, and Union Territory levels and is managed through INTERPOL Liaison Officers (ILOs). These ILOs work in conjunction with Unit Officers (UOs), who typically hold positions such as Superintendents of Police, Police Commissioners, or Branch Chiefs within their respective organizations. Currently, communication between the CBI, ILOs, and UOs is primarily conducted through traditional methods, including letters, emails, and faxes.
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