Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 28: A few days after the registration of the first e-FIR in Kupwara District of the Kashmir province, the Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed they have registered over 100 zero FIRs and 70 e-FIRs under the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) criminal laws in the region so far.
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Since the implementation of the new laws, there has been massive awareness among the public, who are using different electronic platforms, including SMS, email, WhatsApp, Citizen Service Centers, and web portals to lodge their complaints digitally, a Crime Branch (CB) official said.
These modern avenues go hand in hand with traditional methods like verbal, telephonic, and written complaints, he added.
“As of now, over 52 complaints have been received via SMS and email across different Police Stations in the Union Territory. In addition, 64 complaints have been submitted through Citizen Service Centers, and 10 complaints have been filed through web portals/eForms. More than 70 of these electronic complaints have already been converted into formal FIRs,” the Crime Branch official said.
In line with Section 173 of the BNSS, he said, all electronic complaints received by the police must be recorded.
However, the complainant is required to sign the electronic complaint within three days to proceed further with the investigation, he added.
Additionally, the CB official said that the introduction of the Zero FIR system has proven successful, as over 100 Zero FIRs have been registered in various police stations across J&K, with 83 of these cases being transferred to police stations outside the state for further investigation.
To ensure the integrity of the new eFIR system and prevent misuse, stringent checks and balances have been put in place at various levels, guaranteeing that only legitimate complaints are processed and filed, he said.
Inspite of the fact that the Crime Branch has been claiming to have converted over 70 electronic complaints into FIRs so far, Police Station Bakshi Nagar registered the first e-FIR of the Jammu region.
A police official said that the complainant Nishant Kohli reported theft of his Tata Ace auto’s battery on the evening of February 26, 2025, between 7 to 8 PM.
Unable to visit the Police Station due to household chores, he said, Nishant informed the SHO telephonically after attending an awareness program about new criminal laws, where it was explained that FIRs could be filed via email or WhatsApp.
In response, the Police Station swiftly processed the e-FIR, marking it as FIR number 30/2025 under Sections 303(1) BNS.
Police Station Satwari also claimed to have lodged the first e-FIR at the Police Station.
Here, the e-FIR was lodged on the complaint of one Sanjay Kumar son of Chuni Lal of Lower Gadigarh, Jammu, who reported theft of his Pulsar bike (JK0AP-7695) via WhatsApp.
On his complaint, an FIR number 43/2025 under sections 303(2) of the BNS was registered at Police Station Satwari and further investigation taken up.
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