Srinagar, Feb 28:The Jammu and Kashmir Police have received over 120 complaints through electronic means under the new criminal law, Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), marking a significant shift towards digital policing and citizen-friendly services.
A police spokesman, BNSS allows citizens to lodge complaints through various electronic platforms, including SMS, email, WhatsApp, Citizen Service Centers, and Web Portals, in addition to traditional verbal, telephonic, or written complaints.
“As of today, 52 complaints have been received through SMS and email at different police stations across the Union Territory. Additionally, 64 complaints have been filed through Citizen Service Centers, while 10 complaints were received via Web Portal/Internet (e-forms). More than 70 of these electronic complaints have been converted into FIRs,” he said.
The spokesman said that under Section 173 of BNSS, any electronic complaint received by the police must be officially recorded, but the complainant is required to physically sign the complaint within three days.
Regarding the implementation of Zero FIR, he said that over 100 such FIRs have been registered across various police stations in J&K.
“Out of these, 83 FIRs have been transferred to police stations outside Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
To ensure that e-FIR provisions are not misused, the police have introduced checks and balances at various levels, particularly in response to rising awareness about cybercrime trends among the general public.
“The initiative reflects the department’s commitment to leveraging technology for accessible and transparent policing while safeguarding against potential misuse of digital complaint mechanisms,” he added
