Technology should be used to prevent crime: Home Minister Anil Deshmukh

Pune: The Maharashtra State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Saturday reviewed the law and order situation in the Pune district and instructed to make maximum use of technology to curb the crime.

The meeting was held at the Government Rest House in Pune where the Pune city commissioner Dr K. Venkatesham, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Shiswe, Additional Commissioner of Police for Pune city Dr Sanjay Shinde and Ramnath Pokale Additional Commissioner of Police for Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissionerate were present. Deputy Commissioner of Police Bachchan Singh, DCP Mitesh Ghatte, Pune District Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil and other officials were present in it.

Home Minister Deshmukh inquired about COVID-19 situation in Pune, and the law and order, during the current scenario. Apart from that, he also spoke about how the police are managing it in such critical situation locale by curbing the crime, patrolling at the containment areas and during an emergency.

In the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bachchan Singh presented an app which is better known as "ExTra" (Tracking of Externees) app made by Pune City Police for deported accused/suspects.

"ExTra" (Tracking of Externees) app to prevent suspective movements of an extern criminal from putting registration from re-entering Pune city as well as the crimes commitments by them. This has been developed specially by them to understand the criminal and his whereabouts.

He shared in the meeting, "Its implementation has begun a month back and this is app has been achieving with the main objective of deterring deported criminals from committing criminal acts, their activities. This is helping police in keeping a tap and monitoring, such criminal. It is helping us to traced and gain for nailing down such a notorious criminal. It has been convenient to strictly enforce the deportation order. It will be convenient to observe deported criminals. With less manpower, it will be possible to effectively monitor criminals. Reducing the number of cases filed in violation of the deportation order will help reduce the additional stress on the police investigation system."

"As many as 20 such externs (Tadipar) accused or suspects are being monitored through this app till date and the accused was sentenced to four months imprisonment along with a penalty of fined one who violates the norms. The police stations in which the offender resides during the deportation period will also be able to effectively monitor the said offender," DCP (Crime) Bachchan Singh added.

District Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil informed about "Smart Policing". The meeting was attended by other police officers.

Speaking to police top brass officers of Pune District Maharashtra State Home Minister Deshmukh said, "the police are working on all fronts in this critical situation it's really admiring things that they are doing and renderings their duty for common citizens. It is time that we all live in a technology world and police must also adopt various technologies used to work one step ahead of the criminal. And such technology must be used for the prevention of crime."