Eye spy! Delhi Police sharpens surveillance in digital age
New Delhi: Delhi Police's counter-intelligence unit (CIU) is all set to run the next generation of Netra (Networking Traffic Analysis) surveillance platform and has begun upgrading its infrastructure and tech capabilities with new high-end servers and systems.
According to sources, next-gen Netra will enable cops to identify and pre-empt potential threats online.
Netra is a sophisticated network monitoring system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is designed to intercept and analyse internet traffic, encompassing a wide range of online activities, such as emails, social media posts and VOIP calls.
"A technical evaluation meeting was held at the Delhi Police headquarters in Sept last year.
After a rigorous evaluation process, DCP Manishi Chandra approved a high-end server in Jan, paving the way for acquisition," said a police officer.
The estimated cost of one new server is about Rs 25 lakh. However, the procurement was done at a much lower cost, resulting in substantial savings for the department, an officer from the unit said.
Located in New Friends Colony, the CIU has the most advanced servers in the force, costing lakhs of rupees, and handles sensitive cases requiring secrecy.
"The high-end servers are required to run special software, including Netra, which can help cops sift through gigabytes and terabytes of data, besides analysing data from internet dongles and USBs," an officer said.
The state-of-the-art infrastructure enables cops to process internet protocol details records (IPDRs) data faster than their rival units, giving them an edge in key investigations, he added.
Netra, India's online monitoring system, serves as a critical pillar of the country's security infrastructure, enabling intelligence agencies to track and analyse suspicious online activity using predefined keyword filters.
"While there is a CMS (centralised telephone interception provisioning system) which intercepts phone communications, Netra helps monitor online activities, tracking text-based messages across various platforms, such as Facebook Direct messages, personal emails and online blogs. By utilising filters and keywords, it can identify specific words even within encrypted messages," said an officer.
Around a decade ago, security agencies in India sought to develop a real-time internet monitoring system to counter the growing threat of terrorism and crime facilitated by data communication.
The effort focused on major service providers like BlackBerry, Skype and Gmail.
"Two systems were designed: one by DRDO's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), known as Netra, and the other by the National Technical Research Organisation," said a retired senior police officer.
Netra became the choice of tool for cops as it is an indigenous solution developed by govt scientists without external involvement.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Jai Corp Case: Complainant helms realty firms with no revenue but high reserves & surplus
The CBI Wednesday opposed a petition filed by Jai Corporation Ltd against an investigation by the central agency into allegations of serious financial irregularities by the Mumbai-based company led by Anand Jaikumar Jain. Seeking rejoinders from petitioner Jain and Jai Corp, which is involved in the manufacturing sector, the High Court posted the hearing after four weeks. The hearing was held after the Supreme Court on March 17 disp-osed of an appeal by Jai Corp aga-inst a Bombay High Court order directing the CBI to form an SIT to probe the allegations of irregularities to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore. The allegations against Jain stem from complaints first filed in 2021, and later in 2023, with the Economic Offence Wing (EoW) of Mumbai Police by Shoaib Sequeira, the founding member of NGO Protection of Rights Association (P.O.R.A) and a director in at least two real estate firms. Set up in 2009, P.O.R.A was started by a group of seven persons who, according to its website, 'came in contact with each other due to personal and individual litigations wherein their rights and the rights of their family members were violated due to the misuse of power and high handedness of people in governance'. It aims to 'educate and create awareness…about the various mechanisms/ methods by which corruption in governance can be exposed and curbed through citizen movements and social participation', apart from other objectives such as legal aid. Registrar of Companies (RoC) records show Sequeira is one of the two directors at Sigrun Realties, a real-estate firm incorporated in December 2005, and its subsidiary First Virasat Realcon — the other director in both firms is listed as Naveen Dsouza. But Sequeira is not a direct shareholder in either Sigrun Realties or First Virasat Realcon. Records list the major shareholders of Sigrun Realties as Stephen Dmello (73%) and Shivani Atri (24.51%). It lists the shareholders of First Virasat as Sigrun Realties (66.65%); Faizal Patel, UK (8.34%); Rakesh Soni, UK (6.45%); Anavarhushen Patel (6.45%); and, Siraj Vali Umerji Buma (6.45%). Records show Sigrun Realties has a paid up capital of Rs 34 crore with reserves and surplus of over Rs 41 crore. They also show that the company has not generated any revenue over at least the past four financial years from FY'21 to Fy'24. During this period, its financial statements do not reveal any source of funds for the amount shown in reserves and surplus. Records show First Virasat Realcon has a paid up capital of Rs 1.01 crore with reserves and surplus exceeding Rs 65 crore. It did not post any revenue over at least the past four financial years from FY'21 to Fy'24. RoC filings show the company had 'No employees other than directors'. They also do not reveal any source of funds for the amount listed in reserves and surplus. The case in court Legal representatives of Sequeira did not respond to requests for comment from The Indian Express. It was in January 2021 that Sequeira approached the EOW in 'public interest', seeking a probe against Jain related to alleged fraud to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore through various means, such as misappropriation of public funds and defrauding of investors, among others. In the complaint, he also stated that he had come to know through news reports about SEBI action against two companies headed by Jain. The EOW forwarded the complaint to SEBI. Citing lack of progress, Sequeira filed another complaint to the EOW in April 2023. The EOW forwarded the second complaint to the CBI. The central agency expressed its inability to conduct an investigation, stating that the allegations came under the jurisdiction of SEBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED). In 2024, citing lack of progress once again, Sequeira approached the Bombay High Court. Sequeira told the High Court that in 2021, he learnt that SEBI had imposed fines of Rs 20 crore and Rs 10 crore on two companies, Mumbai SEZ Ltd and Navi Mumbai SEZ pvt Ltd, respectively, in which Jain was chairman, for alleged fraudulent futures trading in stocks of Reliance Petrochemicals Ltd (RPL). In January this year, the High Court directed the CBI to form an SIT to probe into the complaints against Jain. The High Court observed that the case has 'national and international ramifications', and that 'agencies (including EOW and CBI) are passing the buck from each other'. How-ever, it also clarified: 'Transferring the investigation to SIT does not mean that we have ruled on the guilt of the person/ persons named as that is not the scope of the petition.' In its order, the High Court also said 'it was pertinent to note that this is not the first case in public interest that the petitioner (Sequeira) has agitated'. In 2005, Sequeira had raised the issue of alleged scams of nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in incentive schemes related to import and export policies. In 2006, he filed two PILs against Autoriders Finance Ltd alleging misappropriation of Rs 50 crore availed as loan from United Trust of India and misappropriation of Rs 76 crore as loan from a consortium of six banks. In April, 2009, the banks collectively recovered nearly Rs 14 crore from Autoriders Finance. Following the Bombay High Court order in the Jain case, the CBI filed an FIR. On March 17, while refusing to interfere in the HC verdict, the Supreme Court said it admired and appreciated the courage with which the HC passed the order.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala HC says no to opening toilets at private petrol pumps for general public use
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed the state government and local self-government institutions not to require that toilets in private petroleum retail outlets in Kerala be opened for public use. The court issued the order on a petition filed by the Petroleum Traders Welfare and Legal Service Society, an association of 300 retail outlet dealers, against a government order to convert their private toilets into public facilities. The petitioners contended that they were being forced to open the private toilets maintained by them at the outlets for the emergency needs of customers to the public. They also alleged that the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, as well as certain other local bodies, had pasted posters in some of the retail outlets to give the impression that the toilets are public toilets. The petitioners said treating toilets in private petroleum retail outlets, which are classified as high-risk zone, as public facilities would lead to unauthorised access. Also, chances of fire breaking out and other catastrophe are very high when a large number of people access the retail outlets in an unauthorised manner. Suman Chakravarthy, the standing counsel for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, submitted that it is the duty of the dealers at the petrol pumps to ensure neat and safe toilet facilities for the public, and it is the duty of the LSG department to ensure that the dealers complied with it. In 2013, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had issued a circular stating that drinking water and toilet facilities at such outlets shall be accessible to the public around the clock. Recently, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Pathanamthitta, had ordered a petrol pump owner to pay Rs 1.65 lakh as compensation to a teacher for not letting her use the toilet on the premises. The complaint was lodged by C A Jayakumari, a resident of Ezhakulam in Pathanamthitta, against the owner of the filling station in Payyoli, Kozhikode.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Police conduct cordon and search operations in Begumpet
Hyderabad: A 'Community Connect, Cordon and Search Operation' was conducted across various localities in Begumpet on Tuesday night. During the operation, police seized foreign cigarettes valued at Rs 4 lakh, and approximately 70 vehicles were impounded for either lacking valid documents, displaying no number plates, or being found abandoned. A total of 530 houses were checked during the extensive operation, which involved a police team comprising around 200 members. According to police, the primary objective of the programme was to engage with the local community, understand their concerns, identify social issues, and take decisive action against anti social elements. The initiative also specifically aimed to curb drug related activities, public consumption of alcohol, and other unlawful behaviours. The operation covered key areas, including Sanjeevaiah Park Railway Station, NBT Nagar, Patigadda, and Old Patigadda. Senior police officials, including the DCP, North Zone; ACP, Begumpet; SHO and DI, Sub Inspectors of Begumpet Police Station; and staff drawn from other police stations, participated in the community engagement. They interacted with residents and gathered feedback on local civic issues. S Rashmi Perumal, DCP North Zone, extended her gratitude to the local residents for their cooperation during the operation and appreciated their active participation. The department assured the public that similar programmes would be organised in the future to strengthen police public relations and ensure community safety. The Zone Police appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or criminal activities in their neighbourhood.
