In a bold, forward-looking move to strengthen community engagement and make policing more accessible, the Varanasi Range Police have launched Police Satark Mitra, an innovative WhatsApp-based chatbot, that allows citizens to report crimes anonymously and securely — without fear of exposure or retaliation.
Introduced across the districts of Jaunpur, Ghazipur and Chandauli, this initiative is a game-changer in grassroots policing, blending modern technology with the trust citizens place in law enforcement. Designed to ensure safety, confidentiality and ease of use, the chatbot is already making waves as a citizen-centric approach that encourages residents to partner with police in tackling crime.
A Citizen-First Approach to Policing
At the heart of this initiative is Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vaibhav Krishna, who conceptualised and operationalised the system as part of a broader effort to break the long-standing mistrust between ordinary citizens and law enforcement. According to DIG Krishna, many people refrain from reporting criminal incidents because they fear that their identity will be exposed, leading to potential harassment or backlash. Police Satark Mitra directly addresses this challenge by preserving complete anonymity — police officers cannot access the mobile number or personal details of users, even if they wish to.
The goal is two-fold: make reporting simple and ensure that citizens feel safe doing so. The platform is available to anyone in the covered districts, and all it takes to start the process is an ordinary WhatsApp message.
How the Bot Works — Simple, Inclusive, Smart
Using the service is intentionally straightforward. A resident sends a single message such as “Hi” to 7839860411 or scans a police-issued QR code. The chatbot immediately responds, asking for a preferred language and then prompting the user through easy, category-based questions to collect information about the incident.
Citizens can share details via text, audio recordings, photographs or even videos, making it easier to submit evidence such as CCTV footage or snapshots related to criminal activity. The system’s guided interface ensures clarity — even for users who might be unfamiliar with technology. Once submitted, the data reaches the offices of the respective Superintendent of Police (SP) and the DIG of the Varanasi Range, enabling quick assessment and action.
Wide Range of Crimes Covered
One of the most significant strengths of Police Satark Mitra is its broad applicability. The chatbot accepts complaints related to a wide spectrum of unlawful activities, including:
◆Cow smuggling and illicit liquor operations
◆Drug trafficking
◆Illegal arms manufacturing and distribution
◆Human trafficking and prostitution rings
◆Gambling and extortion
◆Crimes against women and children
◆Police corruption and forced religious conversions
◆Illegal mining and vehicle overloading
◆Robbery, chain snatching, and other violent offences
This extensive list ensures that residents — regardless of the nature of their concern — have a trusted channel to alert authorities.
Accountability Through Tech: Dashboard and Feedback Loop
To complement the citizen-facing bot, a backend dashboard has been developed for law enforcement officials at district and range levels. This powerful tool enables senior officers to:
●Analyse crime patterns and hotspots
●Compare data across police stations
●Conduct trend assessments on a weekly or monthly basis
●Categorise reports based on evidence sensitivity.
As soon as action is taken on a report, officers can upload feedback to the system. This, in turn, triggers an automated response back to the informant, reinforcing confidence that their information is being taken seriously.
DIG Krishna acknowledges that some false or worthless submissions might surface, but the system includes filtering mechanisms to identify and eliminate spurious reports as it learns and evolves.
A Modern Step Towards Community-Driven Policing
Launched on June 20, this citizen-empowerment initiative reflects how police departments can meld digital innovation with public trust. By putting technology directly in the hands of residents, the Varanasi Range Police are reimagining how communities and law enforcement collaborate to make neighbourhoods safer.
Officials have urged locals to actively use Police Satark Mitra and help build a crime-free environment — a clear signal that the era of passive policing is giving way to participatory public safety, where every citizen has a role to play.
