Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched the ‘Bharatpol’ portal, an initiative aimed at facilitating faster international police assistance. Speaking at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Shah emphasized the need for Indian investigation agencies to leverage modern technology to track down fugitives and combat transnational crimes.
“It is time we use modern technology and techniques to bring fugitives who absconded after committing crimes in India to justice,” Shah said. He added that Bharatpol, developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), would serve as a real-time interface, allowing central and state agencies to seamlessly connect with Interpol and expedite investigations.
Highlighting India’s efforts to strengthen its internal systems, Shah described Bharatpol as a crucial step to address global challenges. “This portal will enable sharing and obtaining information on cases from Interpol’s 195 member nations, making investigations more efficient,” he said.
Shah also urged the CBI to take the lead in training state agencies on using the Bharatpol portal and the recently introduced criminal laws aimed at improving trials against fugitives. “We need to institutionalize these systems and ensure knowledge of various Interpol notices and their procedures,” he noted.
What is Bharatpol?
The Bharatpol portal, designed by the CBI, facilitates faster communication between Indian law enforcement agencies and Interpol. It aims to address delays caused by traditional modes of communication, such as letters and emails, by consolidating all stakeholders onto a single digital platform.
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, 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. Shri 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.
Shah also highlighted 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.
Shah further 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.
Amit Shah laid stress on the importance of raising awareness among law enforcement agencies about INTERPOL notices and institutionalizing the 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. Shah described the entire initiative as revolutionary, with the potential to redefine investigative processes and elevate law enforcement to new heights.