January 21: Nepal Police has adopted a policy of utilizing state-of-the-art technology in crime control, crime investigation and traffic management, thereby steadily achieving the desired results.

The use of modern technologies has helped police prove the authenticity of the evidence in the court when the accused deny their wrongdoings, according to the police. 

Spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police, SSP Dineshraj Mainali, shared that the Nepal Police has proceeded with its works in line with the policy of utilizing technology to optimize their performance. Considering the important role of modern technology in crime investigation, police have been maximizing the practice lately, said SSP Mainali. 

The Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Samakhusi, Kathmandu examines the evidence collected during the investigation of crimes. The lab has been conducting scientific testing and analysis of chemicals and narcotic drugs, explosive substances, toxicology, DNA, controversial documents, footprint and fingerprint analysis and scientific examination of photos among others, it was shared. 

Also, polygraph machines are used to test whether the accused or crime suspects are lying or not. Postmortem is conducted at the Forensic Department of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and district hospitals to find out the cause of the death- whether it is due to murder and other causes.

The police have also digitalized many of its services to facilitate the service seekers. The police report can be accessed online within a few days from any part of the world, according to DIG Bhim Prasad Dhakal, the Central Spokesperson for the Nepal Police. 

Police also have their App through which the public can notify the police about the incidents of crime. Similarly, public can also play the role of 'police without uniform' by informing the police about criminal activities through the emergency numbers such as 100, 103 and 104, said SSP Mainali. 

To minimize road accidents and for effective traffic management, the traffic police have put in place CCTV cameras, traffic lights, street lights, road signs and signals, road markings, radar guns, breath analyzers, drug detection kits, GoPro cameras, voice recorders among others, informed Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office's Spokesperson Rajendra Prasad Bhatta.

Efforts are underway to introduce vehicle scanners and other technologies at the main checkpoints of the Kathmandu Valley. Altogether 10 Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras are in use in the valley apart from 170 CCTV cameras.

Also, face-reading cameras have been installed in 10 places, cameras with video management based on AI have been installed at 150 places for effective traffic management, said Spokesperson Bhatta.