Home minister reviews implementation of crime tracking network project

Union minister of home affairs Rajnath Singh today said he will take up the issue of implementation of the `Crimes and Criminal Network Tracking and Systems (CCTNS)' project with state governments that have so far not implemented it.

Reviewing centre-state division of responsibilities of the home ministry, the minister said CCTNS could also strengthen efforts to check cyber crimes.

Referring to the recent spate of crimes against women, Rajnath Singh said he was concerned over the delay in the incorporation of women's distress alarm button on mobile phones.

He also stressed the need for deployment of women in police stations and modernisation of prisons.

While reviewing the progress of the CCTNS project, it was observed that even though the project is in advanced stage of implementation, some states and union territories like Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Haryana, Lakshadweep, Manipur and Rajasthan are still lagging behind. The home minister said he will personally take it up with the concerned chief ministers and UT administrators.

The union cabinet had, on 4 February 2014, announced a `Nirbhaya Fund Project,' which aimed at providing speedy assistance in response to the calls from women in distress. Distress/ emergency alarms generated by woman, by pressing a button, through her mobile phones/devices will land at Police Control Room which would immediately arrange to dispatch emergency PCR van to assist the individual in distress. The proposed system is to be implemented in the identified 114 cities.

The home minister raised concern regarding the delay in kicking-off the project. It was decided that the project should be implemented in an expeditious manner. He proposed to review it personally soon with all stakeholders.

Regarding the Cyber Crime Project, the minister stated that India had 916 million phone subscribers and 239 million internet users currently and the incidence of cybercrime recorded in 2012 is only 3,477 crimes (2,876 under IT Act and 601 under IPC). Considering the number of users, the incidence of crime reported is negligible because of lack of awareness and the lack of capacity in the law enforcement agencies which don't have enough capacities to handle serious incidents of cyber crimes.

Current technology developments and industry best practices are slow to reach Law Enforcement Agencies, lack of enough trained manpower, equipment and incentives for the Forensic Support units and lack of adequate understanding of technology crimes and the applicability of digital evidences by the prosecutors and judiciary.

Rajnath Singh directed that an appropriate body working in the software industry be utilised for providing the guidance and mentorship to the police in the states to enable them to develop their capacities to fight cybercrime.