Gandhinagar: The General Assembly of the 195-member International Criminal Police Organization, popularly known as the Interpol, will be held in New Delhi from 18 to 21 October, 2022.India joined Interpol in 1949. It is a matter of great pride that the event is being held when India is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. It is likely that heads of police forces of all 195 member states, including India, will participate in the four-day event. India has been selected as the host due to the dedicated efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Gujarat’s police force, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is on its toes to curb drug trafficking. At the same time, the state’s police force is on its mission to catch criminals, with the help of Interpol, hiding abroad.

Arrest of Jayesh Patel, accused in murder, from London

Till date, the state police has arrested 4 criminals who were absconding. Of these four, the most important case is that of Jayesh Patel who was accused in the murder of advocate Kirit Joshi in Jamnagar. The then S.P of Jamnagar and current DIG of Gujarat ATS Deepan Bhadran said that the state police filed a case with supporting evidences to UKC (United Kingdom’s nodal agency) through CBI, India’s nodal agency for Interpol. Jayesh Patel was nabbed in London based on the supporting evidences. A case for his extradition is underway at the Westminster Court. Jayesh Patel was living in the U.K under an alias of a Portuguese. Since 2019, Gujarat Police has succeeded in nabbing the criminals with the help of Interpol in three other cases. These include cases involving accused Dhaval Mavani (2019), Xing Feng Zi alias Richard (2021) and Mukesh Kumar Vrindavandas Shah (2022).

More culprits to be nabbed in the coming days

“We are actively coordinating with Interpol to reach criminals hiding abroad. Gujarat Police has succeeded in arresting four accused. The state police will take stern action again criminals to safeguard the people and maintain law and order.”
– Deepan Bhadran, DIG, ATS-Gujarat

Indian agencies working with 194 countries

With the help of Interpol, India’s central and state security agencies have access to security agencies of 194 countries Interpol Global Communication System, helps the police in tracking and investigating criminals. India has provided necessary co-operation to Interpol and follows its protocols strictly.

General Assembly’s Agenda

A general assembly of Interpol is held once a year. On a rotational basis, each member country hosts this meeting. India has got the chance to host this meeting after 25 years. CBI, a nodal agency for Interpol, will host the General Assembly which addresses the needs of the member states. Apart from that, it also elects members of the Executive Committee, who provide guidance between the sessions of the Assembly. General assembly takes decisions in the form of resolutions. Each member country has one vote. The meeting, to be held in Delhi this year, will discuss topics including cyber and professional crimes as well as crimes against children. Moreover, there will be an exchange of crime data and measures to control it, and information on technology will also be shared.