Police forces across the country today have to face challenges like terrorism, naxalism, extremism, fundamentalism and organized crime. The crime scenario has become complex with criminals acquiring modern gadgets and using sophisticated technologies, including extensive use of ICT Ministry of Home Affairs has been assisting State Governments in modernizing their police forces under a scheme known as Modernization of Police Forces (MPF) for over 35 years
MPF Scheme The crime scenario today has become complex with criminals acquiring modern gadgets and using sophisticated technologies, including extensive use of ICT. Cyber crime and diverse economic offences are the latest menace. Primarily, these challenges have to be dealt with by State Governments, as 'police' is a state subject under the Constitution of India. However, considering the gravity and magnitude of these challenges, and in keeping with Union's obligation under Article 355 of the Constitution of India, the state police forces are aided by Central Para-Military Forces (CPMFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Government has also found it necessary that police forces be provided with latest equipment and technology to enhance their capabilities. Ministry of Home Affairs has been assisting State Governments in modernizing their police forces under a scheme known as Modernization of Police Forces (MPF) for over 35 years. Under this scheme, assistance is provided to the State Governments through a wide range of items namely the construction of secure police stations, outposts, police-lines, vehicles, modern weaponry, security, surveillance, communication, computerization, forensic equipment, upgradation of training infrastructure, police housing, etc. The scheme includes some specific areas of focus, such as Mega City Policing, Desert Policing, naxal affected States, POLNET & Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA).
Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) Information & Communication Technology has been substantially and effectively used in modernizing the state police functioning. While some States have taken individual initiatives to use IT in their police functions, e.g. e-Cops of Andhra Pradesh, the most significant all-India venture of ICT is an ambitious Mission Mode Project (MMP) under the National e-Governance Plan, known as the Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA). With a view to automate police functioning at police station level for prompt response to the public, CIPA has been launched across the country, initially in 10% police stations, by the Ministry of Home Affairs with the assistance of National Informatics Centre as its implementing agency. As CIPA introduces an element of transparency in the working of police, by significantly reducing manual record / register maintenance at police stations, eliminating duplicate and inconsistent record keeping, facilitating maintenance of record of crime and criminals, keeping track of the status of crime, facilitating investigating officer with availability of records, generating various reports from time to time, ensuring supervision by the senior officers, the victims will be the prime beneficiaries. With the police stations being primary source of data, the derived data required at different levels e.g. district, State & Central, will automatically flow. For this purpose, a bridge software is under development by NIC, which will enable automatic transfer of data from CIPA to already existing Crime & Criminal Information System (CCIS).
Crime & Criminal Information System (CCIS) CCIS is a national database containing relevant information about crime and criminals, which helps police officers in investigating crimes. It was upgraded in 2005 as a multi-lingual application with facility for five languages namely Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Kannada and Gurumukhi besides English and Hindi. Crime analysis feature has also been introduced through data warehousing. The application has been web enabled so that the field level investigating and supervisory officers can access the database at the national and State levels through internet anywhere and anytime.
Police Net This is the most significant application of communication technology to network police organizations across the country. The inter-state and also intra-state police telecommunications are carried through Police Net, commonly known as POLNET, up to local police station level with 852 VSATs at various State capitals/district headquarters and selected CPMFs. From district headquarters VSAT police stations, to police stations, the communication is to be achieved through Multi Access Radio Telephones (MART). The project is aimed at facilitating direct police station to police station connectivity. A total of 11,502 Multi Access Radio Telephones (MART RSU) terminals are proposed out of which 2,141 systems have already been established. The voice connectivity is extended to police stations through MART systems. POLNET station at headquarters includes a HUB with 11 meters dish antenna located at New Delhi, which supports total VSAT network of about 1,000 locations. At state capitals, a hybrid topology is employed for VSAT networking with 3.8 meter dish antenna with star and mesh connectivity.
Modernisation of Central Para-military Forces There are seven Central Para-military Forces (CPMFs) under the administrative and operational control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. These are Assam Riffles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). To upgrade the operational capabilities of these CPMFs by introduction of modern and sophisticated weaponry, communication equipment, surveillance equipment, computers, training equipment and transport, etc., a modernization plan for CPMFs is also under implementation. The CPMFs have also effectively employed ICT in the context of their modernization plans and derived substantial benefits in improving their operational efficiency.
w CRPF The first major ICT application has been implemented in CRPF, the largest of all CPMFs. Known as Intranet SELO; it is a web-based intranet Application Software covering almost all functions of the force viz. operations, personnel management, inventory management, budget and finance, mail messaging, workflow and document management system. In first phase of the project, it has been implemented at 84 offices / locations across the country. The Intranet is being extended to 30 newly created offices in its second phase. The project has been found very useful as it provides on line functioning of the force from Directorate General's office down to Group Centers. Since all offices are connected on WAN environment, any information required is readily available online. The pay roll system, TA/DA and supplementary bills are working successfully on SELO Network. All communications between various offices are being carried out through mail messaging through the network. The workflow has been implemented in all SELO connected offices.
BSF BSF is in the process of launching a similar project called Intranet PRAHARI for computerizing its operations and office functioning.
SSB SSB has created LANs at force headquarters and all its three frontiers, viz. Lucknow, Patna and Guwahati. Inter office information is being exchanged through the LAN via broadband connection. For quick interaction, decision making process and maximizing operational communication over ISDN lines, a video conferencing system between force headquarters, Guwahati frontier and IT&T Training Center, Faridabad has been established.
ITBP ITBP, under its modernization plan, has provided VSAT terminals at 16 locations and employed BEST equipment and SMART equipment. VSAT terminals have enabled reliable real-time long distance communication, which was hitherto difficult through HF communication. This also provides voice communication.
CISF CISF has established LAN at its sector headquarters, zonal headquarters, group headquarters, NISA, Hyderabad, recruitment training centres and reserve battalions. A software. e-samarth is being developed by NIC for GPF solution to connect all four RPAOs with central server at NIC where GPF details will be accessible to all CISF personnel online. In the second phase, CISF will be able to register grievances regarding errors in GPF accounts online using this software.