Haryana to set up fingerprint scan checkposts to curb crime

In a bid to reduce crime committed by outsiders, Indian state Haryana is setting up checkposts in 30 different border locations, and police will randomly stop vehicles and collect fingerprint scans as a part of a new program called Pehchan Kaun, The Times of India reports.

This new system kicks off on December 10, 2012, as police officials have seen great success with the Pehchaun Kaun PCR Vans program which helped nab nearly 500 criminals in just five months.

These scanners, costing approximately USD$2,000 each, will be loaded with a database of wanted criminals. Those whose fingerprints and faces are found to match records in the database will be held.

According to the Times of India article, police officials said that the National Crime Records Bureau was helping the department by providing data on criminal identities. Besides fingerprints, the scanners will also contain data of stolen vehicles and of vehicles involved in crime.

“We are holding meetings with the Haryana police for the smooth implementation of the project and public opinion will also be generated before going full throttle,” Additional Director General of Police Layak Ram Dabas, who leads the state crime records bureau (SCRB) said, adding that once fully operational, the Pehchan Kaun checkposts will serve as a major deterrent to crime.

A previous SCRB study has shown that nearly 20% of the crimes related to property in Haryana are committed by those entering from neighbouring states.

Article Topics

access control  |  biometrics  |  border control  |  fingerprint  |  fingerprint biometrics  |  fingerprint recognition  |  fingerprint scanner  |  government  |  government purchasing  |  homeland security  |  identification  |  identity management  |  law enforcement