26/11: A Catastrophe We Saw Coming
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks weren’t just a terror strike—they were a failure of action. Days before the carnage, the U.S. handed India precise coordinates of the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT’s) ship, Al Husseini.
The tip-off moved through R&AW, Intelligence Bureau, and finally to Mumbai Police. Yet, nothing substantial was done. The attackers sailed into Indian waters, hijacked a trawler, and landed at Colaba without challenge.
When gunshots echoed at Leopold Café, it wasn’t seen as a terror attack. Mumbai Police dismissed it as gang violence. By the time the truth hit, the city was under siege. The terrorists, armed with AK-47s, moved methodically, killing innocents and even segregating victims by religion at the Oberoi Trident.
But starting today, a change has been ensured. BharatPol is here—a bold effort to streamline India’s security forces, bridge gaps in coordination, and act as a unified shield against future threats. It’s a step that can ensure such a devastating failure never happens again.
What Does it Do?
A criminal episode typically has five elements to it:
a) Detection
b) Prevention
c) Investigation
d) Response
e) Prosecution
BharatPol, in its essence, helps in the first three stages of a crime.
It aims to improve coordination between Indian law enforcement agencies and international counterparts, especially Interpol. It is developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The portal facilitates seamless, real-time cooperation for tackling transnational crimes such as cybercrime, human trafficking, financial fraud, and organised crime.
Key features of BharatPol include:
- Unified Platform: Integrates CBI and local law enforcement across India, down to district-level officers, with Interpol’s global network of 195 countries.
- Simplified Request Mechanism: Allows front-line officers to request international assistance efficiently. That too by using standardised templates, speeding up responses.
- Rapid Information Dissemination: Enables the fast exchange of criminal intelligence between India and other nations.
- Enhanced Utilisation of Interpol Notices: Makes it easier for Indian agencies to draft and issue Red Corner Notices and other Interpol notices for tracking criminals and criminal activities worldwide.
- Capacity Building: Provides training materials, templates, and resources for officers to improve their ability to handle international investigations.
BharatPol enhances India’s ability to manage global criminal investigations. It offers quicker and more effective solutions to complex crimes that require international collaboration. It addresses challenges faced in traditional communication channels, such as delays through letters and faxes, by providing an efficient, centralised platform for coordination.
Cutting Down The Red Tape
The unfortunate 26/11 attacks themselves are enough to justify such a concept. To illustrate the gravity of challenges, here’s an example:
Consider for a moment that a foreign national with a criminal record in the UK sneaks into India with obscure motives and commits a crime.
Now, here’s what happens currently: The police first and foremost have to identify the criminal(s).
There are multiple ways of doing this: forensic evidence, witness testimonies, DNA analysis, INTERPOL, and CBI outreach are the most prominent.
For the police to access the vast majority of information present in the Interpol databases, they first need to write a formal request in the form of a letter to the CBI. The CBI will then process the request, connect to Interpol, and revert with the requested data points.
As you can see, the very summary of this process takes a significant amount of time. Time, especially in sensitive criminal investigations, is not something worth losing.
Furthermore, experts believe that communication channels like letters and faxes—currently prominent—are less secure than the digital channels that will replace them.
Moreover, the specific analytical depth in Interpol’s databases is remarkable.
For instance, if a militant used a specific type of gun in an armed combat scenario, and we manage to seize the weapon but the militant escapes, the databases and reports from Interpol intelligence agencies can track the origin of the weapon.
They can also track who it was sold to. How it ended up in the hands of that particular militant or his group.
This valuable intelligence can significantly shape the investigation.
Subject Matter Experts Take on BharatPol
Speaking to TFI, a well-known advocate, Mr. Shubham Gupta, expressed optimism about the development.
“This is a positive move,” he said. Detailing the concept further he stated, “Cybercriminals are operating from outside India to commit cybercrimes. BharatPol will enable our local police to gather digital evidence, such as servers and bank account details, located in foreign countries.”
Can Anything Go Wrong?
Whenever any new idea surfaces, a natural progression of thought emerges: What can go wrong?
The only logical possibilities that strike one’s mind would be:
a) Compromised Individuals—who may access sensitive data in bad faith.
b) Potential Breach of Interpol Data.
These are possibilities, sure, but at the end of the day, people are involved. That is just how things work.
We need to strengthen the selection process. Ensure that individuals are held to the strictest legal standards in the event of any proven dishonesty.
Moreover, for the databases, it is said that they are protected by the best cybersecurity minds in the world, and the systems are regularly enhanced for better safety.
Mr. Gupta also offered his remarks on the issue, stating, “There is no apparent threat,”. Reaffirming that this is a very positive step forward.
Other Systems Similar to BharatPol
Several countries have developed similar systems to enhance coordination and intelligence-sharing among law enforcement agencies, particularly for addressing transnational crime.
These include the FBI’s NCIC (National Crime Information Center) in the United States, EUROPOL’s European Crime Information System (ECIS) in Europe, Australia’s National Criminal Intelligence System (NCIS), the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), and Canada’s Integrated Criminal Intelligence System (ICIS).
Here’s a closer look at some of the major international criminal intelligence systems:
Australia – National Criminal Intelligence System (NCIS)
The National Criminal Intelligence System (NCIS) is a database used by Australian police forces to share and analyse criminal data.
It plays a central role in the country’s law enforcement efforts by consolidating criminal intelligence from various state and federal agencies.
This enhances the ability to track and analyse criminal activity across the nation.
NCIS supports joint investigations by providing a platform for intelligence sharing and analysis, helping to identify organized crime networks and uncover emerging criminal trends.
It is closely integrated with international crime databases, enabling Australia to cooperate with global law enforcement agencies.
United States – FBI’s NCIC (National Crime Information Center)
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC), managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is one of the most widely used criminal databases in the U.S.
It provides law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels with immediate access to information on crimes, criminals, and criminal activity across the country.
NCIC holds a range of records. Including wanted persons, stolen vehicles, and missing persons.
The system allows for rapid coordination and response, particularly when dealing with interstate or international crimes.
It is often integrated with global platforms like INTERPOL to enhance cross-border collaboration.
The system also plays a key role in supporting investigations into organised crime and terrorism.
The Launch Details:
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, launched the BharatPol portal, developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on January 7, 2025.
The event took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Home Minister looked optimistic and noted, “Many criminals have remained beyond the reach of the law after committing crimes.
However, with this system, those who escape from India will be brought within the ambit of the law.Even if they are not in India, their trial will take place, and they will face punishment wherever they are.”
Facts such as the successful return of 100 wanted criminals to India since 2021, including 26 in 2024, through coordinated efforts via Interpol channels, were also discussed.
