Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

‘Smart Sys’ promises to revolutionise policing

— Photo: S. James

speeding up ACTION: Sanjeev Kumar, IG of Police, inaugurating the SMS-based crime information system in Madurai on Sunday.

MADURAI: Policing in Madurai and Virudhunagar districts scaled new heights with the launch of ‘Smart Sys’, an online crime and criminal information system, on Sunday.

Mobile phone users in these districts can trigger police action by sending Short Messaging Service (SMS) to a toll-free number. While assuring prompt action, the system also provides for complete anonymity of the informer.

In the event of any cognizable offence or information on crimes/criminals, people can alert police by sending SMS to ‘9788111000’. The message will be acknowledged and forwarded to the police officers concerned, including top officials. Information on eve-teasing, illicit arrack brewing, drugs, terrorism, road accidents among others can be sent by SMS. The identity of the sender will be kept confidential and his/her mobile number would be confined to the server. Messages forwarded to police officers would not have any reference to the source.

Inspector General of Police (South Zone) Sanjeev Kumar said ‘Smart Sys’ would help in expediting police action on crimes, road accidents and other illegal activities.

Mobile phone operators had agreed to provide subscriber data in Madurai and Virudhunagar districts that would help police to communicate with a large number of people and alert them on natural calamities, road blocks and traffic diversions.

Developed by Chennai-based ‘D3D Technologies’, ‘Smart Sys’ is a storehouse of information, comprising data of all registered vehicles in Tamil Nadu, history of habitual offenders, particulars of hospitals/ambulance services, etc.

“We have also launched vehicle tracking facility with the help of Global Positioning System and Geographical Information System. For the first time, information on traffic updates and missing vehicles will be communicated to the people through SMS,” DIG (Madurai Range) K. Jayanth Murali said.

Residents going out of station could send ‘Locked House’ SMS and the police would deploy night beat constables in the locality. “In case of hit and run cases, even if an eyewitness can provide vague information such as colour of the vehicle, make, part of the registration number etc, we will be able to track down the suspect.

‘Aircel’, the mobile operator who offered the toll-free number, has agreed to receive/deliver SMS on priority. We can even send SMS to one lakh subscribers instantly.” Action taken on SMS received from people would be closely monitored by senior officers and reviewed at periodical intervals. Appropriate action would be initiated on fake or malicious information sent by SMS, police sources said.

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