IPS officer Vaibhav Krishna develops ‘Police Satark Mitra’ WhatsApp bot for anonymous crime reporting in Varanasi range

LUCKNOW: In a significant technology-driven policing initiative, Vaibhav Krishna, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Varanasi Range, conceptualised and operationalised an advanced WhatsApp-based reporting system titled “Police Satark Mitra”. This system aims to empower citizens to report illegal activities without fear or exposure.


The WhatsApp bot, developed under the direct supervision of the IPS officer, covers all three districts of the Varanasi Range—Jaunpur, Ghazipur, and Chandauli. It has been designed as a simple yet secure digital interface that allows citizens to confidentially share information related to organised crime and social offences, including cow smuggling and slaughter, liquor and drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, gambling, prostitution, human and child trafficking, illegal spas, forced religious conversions, illegal mining, overloading of vehicles, extortion, and even police corruption.



Officials said the core objective behind the initiative was to remove the fear of identity disclosure that often prevents citizens from sharing crucial information. The bot guarantees complete anonymity, as neither the mobile number nor any personal details of the informant are visible to police officers at any stage. A citizen only needs to send a WhatsApp message—even a single word such as “Hi”—to 7839860411 or scan the QR code, after which the bot automatically guides the user through language selection and category-based prompts to collect detailed inputs.


The system accepts text, audio messages, photographs, and videos, making it particularly useful for sharing CCTV footage or visuals related to serious crimes such as murder, robbery, or chain snatching. All information received through the bot is routed directly to the offices of the respective district superintendents of police and the DIG, Varanasi Range.


To ensure accountability and data-driven policing, IPS Officer Vaibhav Krishna also introduced a dedicated backend dashboard at the district and range levels. This dashboard enables police officers to analyse crime hotspots, compare police station-wise data, conduct weekly, fortnightly, and monthly trend analysis, and classify inputs based on sensitivity using multimedia evidence. Once action is taken, officers upload feedback through the system, triggering an automated response to the informant.


Senior police officials said the initiative reflects a modern, citizen-first approach to policing, combining technology, anonymity, and accountability. Residents of Jaunpur, Ghazipur, and Chandauli have been urged to actively use the Police Satark Mitra WhatsApp Bot (7839860411) and partner with police in eliminating illegal activities from the region.


How ‘Police Satark Mitra’ WhatsApp Bot Works

Report from Anywhere: Any citizen in Jaunpur, Ghazipur, or Chandauli can report illegal activities by sending a WhatsApp message to 7839860411 or by scanning the QR code.Just Send ‘Hi’: Even a single word like “Hi” activates the bot. It automatically asks for language preference and guides the user step-by-step through options related to the illegal activity.Complete Anonymity Guaranteed: The system is designed so that the informant’s mobile number or identity is never visible to the police, ensuring full confidentiality and zero risk.Share Evidence Easily: Citizens can upload photos, videos, audio messages, or text, including CCTV footage or crime visuals, related to offences like trafficking, drugs, arms, corruption, or forced conversions.Direct Police Action & Feedback: Information goes directly to the SP office of the concerned district and DIG Varanasi Range. After action is taken, feedback is uploaded by officers and an automatic response is sent to the informant.


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