Police ramps up use of multiple technologies in crime investigation

The Nepal Police has adopted the policy of leveraging state-of-the-art technology in crime control, crime investigation and traffic management, thereby steadily achieving the desired results.

The use of modern technologies has helped police prove the authenticity of the evidence in court when the accused deny their wrongdoings, according to the police.

A spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Police, SSP Dineshraj Mainali, shared that the Nepal Police has proceeded with its works in line with the policy of utilizing technology to optimize their performance. Considering the important role of modern technology in crime investigation, police have been maximizing the practice lately, said SSP Mainali.

The Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Samakhusi, Kathmandu examines the evidence collected during the investigation of crimes. The lab has been conducting scientific testing and analysis of chemicals and narcotic drugs, explosive substances, toxicology, DNA, controversial documents, footprint and fingerprint analysis and scientific examination of photos among others, it was shared.

Also, a polygraph machine is used to test whether the accused or suspected ones are lying or not. Postmortem is conducted at the Forensic Department of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and district hospitals to find out the cause of the death- due to murder and others.

The police have also digitalized many of its services to facilitate the service seekers. The police report can be accessed online within a few days from any part of the world, according to DIG Bhim Prasad Dhakal, also the Central Spokesperson of the Nepal Police.

Police have also an App through which the public can notify the police about the crimes. Similarly, the public can also play the role of 'police without uniform' by informing the police about criminal activities through toll numbers such as 100, 103 and 104, said SSP Mainali.

To minimize road accidents and for effective traffic management, the traffic police have put in place CCTV cameras, traffic lights, street lights, road signs and signals, road marking, radar guns, breath analyzers, drug detection kits, GoPro cameras, voice recorders among others, informed Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office's Spokesperson Rajendra Prasad Bhatta.

Efforts are underway to introduce vehicle scanners and other technologies at the main checkpoints on the Kathmandu Valleys. Altogether 10 Automatic Number Plate Recognization Cameras are in use in the valley apart from 170 CCTV cameras.

Also, face-reading cameras have been installed in 10 places, and cameras with video management based on AI have been installed at 150 places for effective traffic management, said Spokesperson Bhatta. (RSS)