Daltonganj: Fingerprints of 217 accused persons have been uploaded to the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) over the past three months, as Latehar police intensified use of the national database, officials said on Thursday.SP Kumar Gaurav said, “The district uploaded 70 fingerprints in July, 68 in Aug and 79 in Sept.”The fingerprints were primarily collected from accused booked under the NDPS Act and in theft cases. According to the SP, the district recorded five successful matches through the system during the three-month period.NAFIS, developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and managed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), enables police forces across the country to access a centralised digital fingerprint repository. Under legal provisions, police can obtain fingerprints, including thumb impressions, from arrested persons for identification and investigation purposes.Gaurav said, “Police officers have been directed to ensure wider use of fingerprint-based identification system that helps track repeat offenders and strengthens criminal investigations. Fingerprint matching under NAFIS can help establish links with previous offences and aid in detecting habitual criminals.”Police sources added that the database already contains over one crore fingerprint records nationwide, making it a significant tool in modern policing and crime detection.
