CCTNS helps cops break online barrier

VIBHA VERMA

vibha@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: With the launch of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS), Goa Police are expected to break into the much-needed online intervention to curb crime in the State.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Goa Liberation Day launched the ambitious CCTNS for the State Police but the real fruits of this are expected at a later stage. Officials confirmed that the launch of the first phase does not provide Goa Police accessibility to data held by their counterparts in other states. 

The usage of different software by Goa Police from that of their counterparts has made the linking non-compatible, isolating the data. But the second and third phase will take care of this lacuna. Access to the national database has been given by National Crime Records Bureau only to a few states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation and National Investigative Agency. These states use the CAS as developed by NCRB.

Goa uses GCOPS software application as state Core Application Software (CAS), even as it is connected with other states police stations via CCTNS. Another state Gujarat has its own software called GUJCOPS. 

“We are unable to access information from other CCTNS connected police stations in the country, although the latter can gain access to our recorded data. Since we are using a personalised software application, unlike the general software under the Central government project, it takes extra effort to bridge utility. We are in the process of doing so,” SP Kartik Kashyap told Herald. 

Though currently there may not be inter-state connectivity, the intra-state linking has been provided, which is expected to ease the process of crime and criminal tracking in the State. All police stations across Goa, the offices of DGP, IGP, DIG and SP, including the police headquarters, are intra-connected through this system sharing all information.

This will unarguably reduce physical strain on the personnel while ensuring paperless communication in obtaining information about arrested and/or jailed persons.

“Criminal records of an accused are now available at the click of a button. The police team of a particular police station need not write to other police stations seeking a crime record, as all data is readily available on this system,” he stated. 

As the system is being adopted in the department that has till date carried out administrative operations manually, the team of experts will soon integrate the software of RTO, State Prisons and the district administration in the CCTNS project. “It is in the pipeline, to be incorporated in the next phase,” Kashyap added. 

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday launched the Goa Police Citizen Portal, aimed at providing online services to the people under the CCTNS.

Speaking at the launch, he had said, “The portal will make police force friendly with the public thereby reducing the chances of arbitrariness and corruption. The portal also has a children’s corner, hence crime rate against children will decrease.” 

All data for the last 10 years has been digitised, helping cops to access all information digitally. The Citizen’s Portal is interactive and informative and contains information about Goa Police like organisation structure, police station details including address and phone numbers, tips for safety, forms for downloading, etc. In addition, citizen services or petitions like RTI, PCC, tenants, employees, servants’ verification etc are also provided through the citizen’s portal online. The cost of the project has been partially borne by the State government whose contribution was Rs 6.52 crore in addition to the Rs 7.04 crore allotted by the Centre.