Uttarakhand to launch e-FIRs soon for theft, missing items

Uttarakhand will soon launch a virtual police station that will receive the e-FIRs filed by people before they are sent to the police station concerned for necessary action

People in Uttarakhand will soon be able to register first information reports (FIRs) in case of vehicle theft and missing items, the state government decided on Tuesday after a meeting chaired by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a meeting of senior police officers and officials of home department where the decision to launch e-FIRs was taken.

Dhami said the system of filing e-FIRs will make it convenient for people. “One will not have to worry about registering an FIR. The e-FIRs should be reviewed regularly by the higher authorities,” he said.

During the meeting, it was decided that a virtual police station will be set up for e-FIRs. Whenever an e-FIR is lodged, it will go to this virtual police station. The complainant will get an acknowledgement of the same. After that, the complaint will be checked and forwarded to the police station concerned for necessary action. The e-FIR portal will also be linked with the Devbhoomi mobile app, officials said.

The chief minister also stressed on use of modern technology in policing such as drones.

Dhami said simplification, solution finding, disposal of grievances and satisfaction of the public constitute the basic mantra of the government. “The system should be such that the public can get their grievances redressed in the easiest way,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Dhami also laid the foundation stone of an administrative building, residential quarters and barrack at Dehradun police lines. Speaking at the event, Dhami underlined the important role being played by the police in the ongoing Char Dham Yatra. The police are extending their cooperation and maintaining law and order at tourist places, such as Mussoorie and Nainital.

Dhami said the state government is moving toward making the state police a smart force as per the vision of the Prime Minister. “The government wants to make the police more strict and sensitive, technical and mobile, alert and accountable, reliable and responsive, and technically efficient. For this, efforts are being made by the government,” he said.

State DGP Ashok Kumar said that in the coming time such administrative buildings would be developed in Uttarakhand style. “As per the instructions of the chief minister, the verification of outsiders is being held on a large scale and the work of removing illegal loudspeakers installed in cities, which lead to noise pollution, is also going on. We are working continuously in coordination with the government to make Uttarakhand Police the best police in the country,” he said.