From now, it is mind over matter for crime branch

Worried by rising crime, police to conduct open house sessions to help constabulary strengthen human intelligence network and not rely solely on technology

Worried by rising crime, police to conduct open house sessions to help constabulary strengthen human intelligence network and not rely solely on technology

Taking note of the number of unsolved crimes that have been piling upu00a0-- ranging from chain-snatching to murdersu00a0-- in the city, the Crime Branch plans to arrange open house sessions for its constabulary to strengthen its human intelligence network, or 'humint' in police parlance. DCP Rajesh Bansode, who recently took charge of the Crime Branch, has taken this initiative. "The sessions will be conducted at the conference hall of the Commissionerate from Friday.


Get alert: Technology may help detect crime but a strong intelligence
network can prevent it, say senior police officers. Representation pic

I will personally address constables' grievances and ensure their efficiency improves. One-to-one communication, in privacy if required, will be the key to breaking barriers with the constabulary," Bansode said.u00a0 "We are looking forward to reach out and interact with each and every Crime Branch constable. This will help them overcome petty internal differences and share valuable inputs and information with seniors."

Bansode said the focus would be on chain-snatching, burglary and murder. "Till June 20, the city recorded 131 incidents of chain-snatching this year, marginally higher than the 120 registered last year in the same period. This nuisance has increased," said Bansode. Bansode said the plan was to reduce reliance on technical surveillance to nab suspects. "Technology is good, but the advantage of an efficient human intelligence network should not be ignored."

A senior Crime Branch officer also stressed the importance of humint. "Technical surveillance may help detect crime and criminals, but human intelligence can prevent crime. The German Bakery case is a classic example of this," he said.

Unsolved cases
2008: Music lover Suresh Alurkar murder case
2009: Builder and Advocate Nikhil Rane murder
2010: IBM techie Darshana Tongare murder case
2011: Gas agency owner Hari Dhamdhere murder
Many chain-snatching, house break-in incidents