New Delhi, January 7
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, today inaugurated the BHARATPOL portal developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Bharat Mandapam.
Shah also presented police medals to 35 award-winning CBI officers, who were honored with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation. Several dignitaries, including the Union Home Secretary, the Director of CBI, and the Secretary of DoPT, were present.
Amit Shah stated that the five key modules of BHARATPOL – Connect, INTERPOL Notices, References, Broadcast, and Resources – provide a technological platform to support all our law enforcement agencies. He explained that through Connect, all our 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.
HM Shah 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 portal's key feature — a real-time interface — that will enable seamless and effective communication among agencies to enhance crime control measures. Union Home Minister stated that 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.
Home Minister highlighted the transformative potential of the new system in addressing crimes such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and cross-border terrorism. He noted that the BHARATPOL network will greatly assist state police forces by facilitating collaboration with law enforcement agencies in 195 countries through real-time information sharing on such crimes.
He also laid stress on the importance of raising awareness among law enforcement agencies about INTERPOL notices and institutionalizing this system. He pointed out that one of the key benefits will be the access to 19 types of INTERPOL databases, enabling young officers to analyze data, develop crime prevention strategies, and apprehend criminals more effectively. He also emphasized the system's capability to address emerging challenges in cybercrime with greater speed and efficiency.
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.
