The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to access the centralised online Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) database for getting details of First Information Reports (FIRs) and stolen vehicles. The project aims to go live by December 31, 2020.
- CCTNS database is a platform that links around 14,000 police stations. All State police are mandated to file First Information Reports (FIR) in the CCTNS.
- With access to CCTNS database, NATGRID will act as a link between intelligence and investigation agencies to access a database related to immigration entry and exit, banking and telephone details of a suspect on a secured platform.
Need for NATGRID:
As per the present arrangement, the security agencies directly contact an airline or a telephone company if they are on a suspect’s trail. The data is shared through international servers such as Google etc. The NATGRID will ensure that such information is shared through a secure platform, safeguarding it from leaks.
- Notably, the State police will not be part of NATGRID and they could directly contact the airlines or railways for information
About NATGRID:
The project envisaged first under Congress’ Palaniappan Chidambaram has got a renewed push under Home Minister Amit Shah. Initiated at a budget of Rs 2,800 crore, it will be a medium for at least 10 Central agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) to access data on a secured platform. The data will be procured by NATGRID from 21 providing organisations such as the telecom, tax records, bank, immigration etc.
About National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB):
Director– Ram Phal Pawar
Headquarters– New Delhi
