How to use technology to track crime

Why in News?

• The article highlights the critical need for seamless integration of technology across varied domains to track crime and aid in investigations.
• It also underlines the significance of coherent implementation of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS) in this regard to handle scams like the recent one in Tamil Nadu.

 

The Recent Scams

• A job racket cheated a group of 25 men from TN of a combined sum of Rs 2.6 crore on the pretext of providing them jobs at the New Delhi Railway Station.
  • The accused and his associate posed as officials from Northern Railways lured the men promising them jobs as travel ticket examiners (TTE), traffic assistants and clerks in the railways.
  • The victims were made to undergo fake medical examinations, document verification and handed over a forged/fabricated training completion certificate.
• Similarly, in Ludhiana (Punjab), a person posed as the Central Commandant of CCTNS extracted money from gullible young men, who were issued fake IDs, promising them jobs as investigating officers in CCTNS.

 

Tackling Crime by e-Governance

• Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS): It is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) of Govt. of India.
  • It aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing.
  • This will be achieved through creation of a nationwide networking infrastructure for evolution of IT-enabled-state-of-the-art tracking system around 'Investigation of crime and detection of criminals'.
  • It thus seeks to computerize Police Processes (FIRs, Investigations, Charge sheets, Challans) and inter-link all Police Stations to create a central database by deploying a Core Application Software (CAS) in each state.
• Inter-linkages in CCTNS: The CCTNS feeds into the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) which covers e-courts, e-prisons, forensics and prosecution, leveraging technology to make criminal justice delivery more efficient.
• Operability in CCTNS: If a crime is committed, this requires five links to be dealt with, namely Investigation, FIR, a charge-sheet, prosecution and successful conviction.
  • Of these five, the last two have to do with ICJS and the way courts work. And rest three three links have to do with the police.

 

What is the significance of CCTNS?

• It has brought transparency and credibility to the crime and criminal records which ultimately has resulted in better crime control.
• It has increased the ability to analyze crime patterns through modus operandi and provides enhanced tools for investigation.
• It has also reduced the workload of the police station back office activities.
• It has resulted in seamless integration with external departments for better citizen service delivery and improved law enforcement.

 

The Success Related to CCTNS so far

• Of around 17,000 police stations in India, more than 97 per cent have CCTNS software and connectivity.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs does an annual ranking of police stations, based on objective data and a survey-based assessment.
• The CCTNS doesn’t enter the ranking directly, though indirectly as the police stations that are not using CCTNS, do not get shortlisted. In 2022, Aska in Ganjam (Odisha) was ranked the best police station.
• Across states, there is a separate Pragati dashboard on different aspects of CCTNS like infrastructure, manpower and use of the database.

 

Limitations of CCTNS

• Limitations in investigating process: There are weaknesses in each link and rates vary, depending on the state and the nature of crime.
  • For example, for IPC crimes, the investigation rates are around 65 per cent and it is unclear as to what happens to the remaining 35 per cent.
  • For states, the investigation rates vary considerably as it can be more than 95 per cent in Gujarat, and just about 45 per cent in Jharkhand.
• Variable charge-sheeting rates: Charge-sheeting refers to the percentage of cases investigated and it also varies widely across states.
  • For IPC crimes, the all-India average is just over 72 per cent.
  • But it can be over 90 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala and West Bengal, while it is less than 40 per cent in Assam.
• Variation in CCTNS data among states:
  • Though 97 per cent of police stations may have been connected to CCTNS, the figure is 77 per cent for West Bengal (as of January 2022).
  • Also, zero per cent of legacy data has migrated in Bihar.

 

Reasons for Variation in CCTNS Data among States

• Under-staffing (both vacancies and filling of vacancies) is one of the reasons for difference in various CCTNS aspects among states.
• Also, both police and prisons are in the State List of Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution which leads to non-uniformity in the application of CCTNS across states.

Way Forward

• The criminal justice systems should be standardized, harmonized and integrated since all citizens should be entitled to the same level of law and order, regardless of residence.
• In 2016, the MHA brought out a model prison manual. Many states haven’t adopted this and have not updated their old prison manuals.
  • The e-Prisons should be implemented fully which seeks to computerize and integrate all the activities related to prison and prisoner management in the jail.
  • This will pave way for prisoners having access to Aadhaar, for enrolment and upgradation in the jail itself, thus making prison administration easier.

Conclusion

• The states need to have coherence in CCTNS implementation to appropriate its benefits fully by digitizing data, ensuring data migration, feeding FIR registration into CCTNS, launching citizen portals in a synchronous manner.
• This will pave way for India following principle of “one country”, “one police” and “one prison”, thus, ensuring justice by e-governance.

 

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Q1) What is PRAGATI?

PRAGATI is an ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

 

Q2) What is Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS)?

It enables seamless data transfer among different pillars of the criminal justice system, like courts, police, jails and forensic science laboratories, from one platform.

 

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Source: The Indian Express