State Police to use technology for better crime detection

SHILLONG: To keep pace with the changing times, Meghalaya Police launched the Citizen’s Portal under Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & System (CCTNS) and the much awaited special highway patrol cars at Director General of Police (DGP) headquarters on Thursday.
In an attempt to curb highway robbery/dacoity in vulnerable pockets of the state, the police department came up with the concept of highway vehicles to be placed along crime prone areas.
The CCTNS is a project that enables citizens to send information/complaints to police online and even allows them to modify/view the registered complaint and track its status online.
Addressing the gathering at DGP office, SK Jain, acting DGP said, “Complaints can be registered directly over the internet. Instead of the usual exercise in which people have to visit a police station to register their complaints with the CCTNS it will be different as the police will be available to the people.”
He informed that the FIRs will be uploaded within 24 hours after the complaint has been lodged.
Highlighting on the highway patrol cars, he said, “The special highway patrols will be deployed at vulnerable areas where high incidences of crime are reported. Police units located along the National Highways will be strengthened for effective response.”
Underlining the need to strengthen the internal security programme, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said, “Wars are no longer fought in the border areas but inside hence there should be a call to re-strategize the internal security of the state. The CCTNS will also ensure transparency.”
Expressing concern that criminals are set free despite being re-arrested for the same crime, Sangma said, “Criminals are picked up and then released. Such an approach has emboldened them. It is time to set up new benchmarks.” “There are techno savvy criminals and we need to match up to their competence,” the CM added.
To address the problem of highway robbery/dacoity prone areas at national highways, patrol cars are slated to be deployed at NH-40 (Shangbangla to Umling, Ri-Bhoi), NH-44 (Jowai bye-pass road, Mizoram & Tripura Road via Jowai, 4th Mile Patrol Pump, WJH), NH-44 (Lad Rymbai and Lad Sutnga, EJH), NH-51 (Jengjal, West Garo Hills), NH-51 (Nengpachi area, Wakgok to Gabilbisa, EGH), NH-44E (Langumshing, WKH).
Programme delayed due to CM’s late arrival
The programme to launch the highway patrol cars and citizen portal under  CCTNS was delayed for two and half hours as the Chief Minister, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, arrived late due to the prolonged Assembly session.