Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat launched Uttarakhand Police Mobile App to enable Android mobile phone users lodge reports with district police in a programme held at police lines in Dehradun on Saturday. The application is initially being facilitated for the Garhwal region and if found successful, would be introduced in Kumaon area also.
Uttarakhand Home Minister Pritam Singh said that the police need to be more advanced in terms of technology. The communication gap between the police and the public can be bridged with the use of this mobile app.
State director general of police (DGP) BS Sidhu said that social media and the use of technology are crucial for policing in the 21st century. In step with today’s online world, Uttarakhand Police Mobile App is a step forward to bridge the gap between police force and citizens.
The mobile app is aimed at reducing public inconvenience in accessing police services and helping citizens to reach out for swift help in times of emergency.
"With this application installed on the mobile phone, the citizens would have access to all the services provided by Uttarakhand Police. They can report to the police without visiting the police station. This endeavor also aims to bring police services on the mobile phones of the citizens," said Sidhu.
Garhwal Range IG/DIG Sanjay Kumar Gunjiyal said that now the people will be able to register their complaint with the police without even leaving their homes. This app is a Diwali gift to people of Uttarakhand. It is a multiple utility feature app aimed at empowering the citizens of Uttarakhand.
He said that it is a user-friendly mobile app. The application will not just make the process of registering a complaint easier, but will also bring transparency to the process of responding to complaints. Citizens would be able to check whether any action has been taken on their complaint.
The mobile app is currently available only for Android users via Google play store. It will act as an umbrella for the Uttarakhand police services. Incorporation various features from different mobile phone apps, the Uttarakhand police mobile app was made with the involvement of WTIT Solution Private limited.
Citizens can report issues regarding crimes, verification of tenants and domestic helps/employees, condition of traffic, lost-found reports and wanted criminals.
The app offers citizens a quick and discrete method for reporting crime related activity directly and instantaneously to police. Using this app, citizens can send pictures and text messages related to crime, traffic, any emergency or adverse situation requiring police action. The application allows citizens to either post the information through messages or by filling an application form. Presently, this app is available only for Android phones.
Besides, one can also report issues like eve-teasing, accident, public nuisance, traffic jam and criminal intelligence through crime report feature available on the app. The names of the wanted criminals have been highlighted in the app and one can inform the police about them.
Regarding lost-found reporting, the app user has to select items from a list which includes mobile phones, passport, voter ID card, Aadhaar card, account book, ATM card, debit card, driving license, PAN card, ration card, tablet, video camera, mobile phone, laptop, I-pods and mark-sheet. With the help of this app 13 crime reporting requests have been registered so far with number of registered users reaching 3557 and rising consistently. The total number of online verification requests through the app till now is 11,007.