Bharatpol and system introduced under the three new criminal laws will empower Indian law enforcement agencies to “bring fugitives to justice”, Implementing Bharatpol and ensuring widespread training on ground will improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement efforts. For years, criminals committing crime in India and fleeing to other countries have evaded the reach of Indian laws and after implementation of such modern systems like Bharatpol, they can be brought within the realm of Justice. The real-time-interface of Bharatpol is its key feature as it will allow central and state agencies to easily connect with Interpol and speed up the investigations. It is high time that the Indian investigation agencies use modern techniques to grab and bring fugitives to justice who flew from India after committing a crime. We need to have eye on global challenges and update our internal system, Bharatpol is the initiative towards the goal, Union home minister Amit Shah said at the launch of new platform on 7th January, 2025.
WHAT IS IT?
Bharatpol is a broadcast hub for assistance and Real-Time Action against Transnational Crimes via International police cooperation. It is a new platform developed by CBI (which is the National Central Bureau or nodal agency of Interpol in India) which integrates CBI with state law enforcement agencies and center, for sharing information on fugitives, criminal matters and processing requests for Interpol notices. It will bring all the central and state law enforcement agencies on a common portal, streamlining the processing of all requests for international assistance through Interpol including the issuance of Red Notices and other colour-coded-Interpol notices. As not just criminals but also others such as missing person or unidentified bodies are needed to be taken care of. It will speed up the investigation process and will facilitate faster international assistance.
HOW IS IT HELPFUL?
Earlier state’s and UT’s police used to write to CBI about their queries and requests for assistance as CBI was the connecting agency of our country with Interpol, the replies also regarding those requests and queries were done through letter, e-mail or fax which was very time consuming and it also indirectly provided an escape point for criminals as they got time due to lengthy process of communication. This portal will still be regulated by CBI, its on CBI website, but will allow frontline police officers to easily and promptly request international assistance directly from 195 Interpol member countries by using standardised templates, training will be provided for the same. This will not only speed up the entire process but will also make it a lot easier.
•The entire process will become paperless, easier and faster.
•It will enable easy drafting of Red Notice requests and other notices of Interpol.
•It will provide access to documents, templates, and training resources, enhancing the capability of frontline officers to conduct probes.
FIVE KEY MODULES : STATED BY UHM AMIT SHAH
1.Connect :- Bharatpol links CBI with all the law enforcement authorities in India by including Interpol liaison officer and unit officers. It will serve as a common platform for them(central and state agencies also Interpol).
2.Interpol notices :- Rapid, secure and structured transmission of requests for Interpol notices.
3.Interpol references :- Facilitates assistance to Indian agencies in criminal matters and investigation abroad through Interpol channels.
4.Broadcast :- Request from 195 countries for assistance in criminal intelligence shared by them can be transmitted for action to Indian law enforcement agencies.
5.Resources :- Provides access to relevant documents and capacity building resources.
MORE ABOUT BHARATPOL
Bharatpol provides a technological platform to support all the law enforcement agencies. The government has already introduced the provision of “trial in absentia” in three new criminal laws, enabling the prosecution of fugitive criminals even in their absence through court orders while ensuring a fair judicial process. This provision will simplify the process of extraditing convicted criminals from foreign countries to India, combined with the capabilities of Bharatpol this new measure (trial in absentia) will empower law enforcement agencies to bring fugitives to justice no matter where they hide. Bharatpol will strengthen the judicial system, enhance transparency, and increase the overall efficiency of law enforcement agencies.
Bharatpol is a Real-time information sharing portal for the state police and central agencies seeking International assistance through CBI instead of using traditional methods of letters, e-mails and faxes. The portal enables the CBI as NCB (National Central Bureau) to rapidly share the criminal intelligence and other inputs from 195 countries with all law enforcement agencies in India. This will lead to effective tracking of crime, criminals and proceeds of crime globally.
CONCLUSION
Bharatpol will bring drastic changes and will be extremely helpful for the law enforcement agencies. It will be a common platform to connect all the Indian law enforcement agencies to the Interpol through CBI, which will enhance their accountability and reduce all the chaos of paperwork and traditional methods. We will also be able to help other countries and will also seek their assistance in reducing crime and nabbing criminals, it will be a two way ship and will work together in the pathway of providing justice.