To keep tabs on criminals and their activities, including terrorists, who are found using Chinese mobile phones, the Forensic Science laboratory department of the Delhi Government is planning to buy Israeli software to break into these handsets and retrieve data.
The decision was taken after forensic experts struggled to retrieve data from Chinese phones which were directly or indirectly linked to investigation of several criminal cases.
Sources said in many terror operations terrorists had exchanged data through Chinese mobiles. “After executing terror strikes, the terrorists used to delete data from their mobile sets. Our investigating agencies were finding it difficult to retrieve deleted data from the Chinese phones. Among the Chinese companies whose cell phones are being used in India are Xiaomi, Huawei, Meizu, Coolpad, Oppo, Vivo and Gionee. What makes the phones of these companies different from others is that if one deletes data from them, it is next to impossible to retrieve it again,” said sources.
Top sources told The Pioneer that the Government has decided to buy the software from an Israeli software company Cellebrite named ‘Universal Forensic Extraction Device that the USA and Israel are using to break into handsets to keep tab on criminals and terrorists.
A proposal in this regard too has been moved by the Forensic Science laboratory department.
The company has priced each of its devise worth about Rs 7-8 lakh. Besides the three new devices, the Government has already procured one in the past.
Dr RK Sareen, Director of Forensic Science laboratory of the Delhi Government, said forensic investigations into criminal cases is all set for a complete revamp with the Delhi Government having roped in an Israeli-based company to supply universal forensic extraction devices at its forensic laboratory to retrieve crucial data from Chinese mobiles used in criminal cases.
As many as 1,000-odd cases, in which forensic experts had not been able to retrieve data from Chinese phones, have been pending investigations with the Delhi Government’s forensic science laboratory.