Moving further toward high-tech policing, the Uttar Pradesh Police has taken another significant step. During the two-day “Police Manthan” held at the police headquarters in Lucknow, the AI-based ‘Yaksh’ app was launched. The app is designed to make criminal identification, monitoring and action faster and more accurate.
According to officials, the platform will store complete data of criminals — names, addresses, photos, videos, previous cases and, most importantly, voice samples. Whenever required, police personnel will be able to access the entire crime record with just one click.
For the first time, identification will not rely only on faces or documents — the system will also help in recognition through voice. This technology is expected to prove useful in cases where criminals change appearance or use fake identities.
Stronger beat policing
During the first session, it was explained that the ‘Yaksh’ app will give new strength to beat policing.
Beat constables and officers will feed detailed information of active, suspicious and history-sheeter criminals from their respective areas into the app.
Data related to sensitive locations, crime trends and police action will be updated regularly. This is expected to speed up patrolling, monitoring and planning, while ensuring information is instantly available at every level.
Tackling cybercrime with technology
The discussion also highlighted how data analytics, digital tracking and modern technologies are helping make action against cybercrimes more effective.
Platforms like ‘Yaksh’ may eventually help improve coordination among different investigating agencies.
Big changes in police station management
A presentation on police-station management explained that through the Smart SHO Dashboard, officers will be able to view —
- status of all cases
- progress of investigations
- pending actions
— at a single click.
This is expected to make operations faster and improve accountability wherever delays occur.
Focus on women’s safety and communication
Issues related to women and child crime and human trafficking were also discussed.
Statewide awareness campaigns are underway, and women beat officers have been instructed to regularly interact with women in their areas, share helpline numbers and spread awareness about the Women Power Line, so that complaints can be registered quickly in case of any incident.
CCNS 2.0 and digital policing
Information was also shared about CCNS-2.0, the new criminal codes and forensic technologies.
- e-FIR
- Zero-FIR
- e-Summons
- e-Evidence
These digital systems are being promoted to make policing faster, transparent and more record-driven.
Behavioural reforms and digitisation of prisons
The meeting also discussed improving police behaviour and public interaction. Training sessions are being conducted with the help of various agencies.
Along with this, initiatives like the e-reporting portal, case-wise monitoring dashboards for listed mafias, digitisation of prisons, AI-enabled CCTV monitoring and e-mulakat (virtual meeting) systems were also presented.
The road ahead
Officials believe that the ‘Yaksh’ app and other digital systems together can bring a major shift in the functioning of the UP Police.
The goal remains — faster response, accurate identification and accountable policing.
These projects will be implemented in phases, and field-level staff will be trained accordingly.
