Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System: Poor Response to Online Complaints

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Rushing to the police station for lodging complaints related to non-cognizable offense is a waste of time and cash when such a job can be done just by visiting a portal in the handset or the personal computer. However, the majority of the people have been resorting to earlier practice. Lack of awareness among the masses about the latter easier system appears to be the main reason.

The CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System) is a portal through which the Assam Police started its online complaint registering facility from mid-2018. It is linked to 270 police stations in the State. This portal spells out in clear terms that all non-cognizable offences can be lodged online without the complainant having to physically visit the police station. There are also people who are averse to go to police stations, and for them this facility is certainly a tailor-made one. After visiting the portal, the complainant just has to fill up the format that appears on the screen. For instance, he/she has to give his name, address, e-mail ID etc. Based on the online complaint, the police station concerned conducts an investigation, and if the police finds it necessary for converting the online complaint into an FIR it calls the complainant to the police station for his/her signature on the FIR. This facility saves time and money of the complainant.

However, the response from the public to this facility continues to be lukewarm. And the blame for this goes to lack of awareness among the target beneficiaries.

According to police sources, the CCTNS was implemented in the State in 2016, initially for certain services like issuance of character certificates, tenant verifications, employee verifications, verifications of domestic helps, seeking permission for holding events, seeking permission for staging strike or protest and the like. However, since 2018, lodging of online complaint for non-cognizable offences has also been included into this facility since a section of the public is averse to visit police stations. Assault, cheating, misbehaviour, stalking etc come under non-cognizable offences. The bottom line is that the State government needs to bring about awareness on CCTNS among the public.

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