FIR is a public document, link CBI, NIA, NCB to Central crime data platform: Amit Shah 

CCTNS is country’s centralised online database of FIRs, charge sheets and investigation reports

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said all Central agencies such as the CBI, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) should be linked to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)- the centralised online database of First Information Reports (FIRs), charge sheets and investigation reports. 

“Nearly 99% of the police stations in the country are connected to CCTNS. But Central agencies such as the CBI, NIA and the NCB are not on this platform. FIR is a public document, what is the secrecy around it? Agencies should not resist, it is not an option [to join CCTNS]. Charge sheet is also a public document. What kind of information has to be shared can be decided professionally by the agencies,” he stated.

The CCTNS is a platform that links around 16,000 police stations across the country. All State police are mandated to file FIRs in the CCTNS module. The project was conceptualised and initated in 2009.

Mr. Shah asked Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla to convene a meeting of Director General of Police of all the Central agencies to bring them to the CCTNS fold. 

He was speaking at the 37 thfoundation day celebration of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). 

The NCRB should expand its scope of work focussing on “social eye” and not merely be content as the repository of crime data. The NCRB operates and maintains the CCTNS platform. 

“You have been doing this work for 27 years, the NCRB data should not only be used by the States to boast about low crime data. The NCRB presents crime data through the prism of the Indian Penal Code. The data should have social eye. For example, what is the crime trend around educational institutions and hostels. The crime scenario before agriculture season kicks in,” he remarked.