Now, all Delhi Police communication on G20 will be on Sandes app

Police said they don’t want to risk a security breach. “We have made all security, traffic, and other arrangements. Now, our prime target is to secure information. On this app (Sandes), if you are a user, you can only access (information) and cannot forward it to anyone whose number is not registered on the app. Inspectors to Special CP-rank officers have been asked to download this app for all G20-related communication. Information to all constables to sub-inspectors will be shared verbally,” the officer said.

“All police personnel have been warned that violation of the direction will be viewed seriously by senior officers of Delhi Police,” an officer said.

A senior police officer said around 20 days ago, an official from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) came to Delhi Police headquarters to give a presentation to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and senior police officers.

“He explained the importance of Sandes, saying it is a secure and user-friendly messaging platform. He told them it has been designed to provide a reliable and efficient means of communication among various government organisations. He asked the Delhi Police to download this app to ensure secure communication as it can be used for limited information sharing,” the officer said.

The first version of the app was released by the NIC in August 2020. It said the app could be used by both central and state government officials “for intra- and inter-organisational communication”. Like WhatsApp, the new NIC platform can be used for all kinds of communications by anyone with a mobile number or email ID.

The app was initially launched for Android users before being extended to iOS users. The launch of the app is also a part of the government’s strategy to push for the use of India-made software so as to build an ecosystem of indigenously developed products.