Punjab’s commitment to combat cybercrimes takes a significant leap forward the State Government on Friday announced to establish 28 new Cybercrime Police stations across all 28 police districts, including three Commissionerates.
The state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, disclosing this groundbreaking initiative on Friday, underscored the critical need to address the escalating threat of cybercrimes effectively.
Acknowledging the pressing need to bolster cybercrime investigation infrastructure, Punjab Police Department has proposed robust measures to enhance its capabilities. DGP Yadav expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for approving the proposal, emphasizing that the Cybercrime Police Stations will emerge as dedicated hubs for probing and combatting cyber-related offenses such as online financial fraud, identity theft, cyberbullying, hacking, and online scams.
These cutting-edge Police Stations will be outfitted with state-of-the-art technology and manned by highly-trained personnel specializing in digital forensics and cybercrime investigation. Operating under the supervision of the respective District Senior Superintendent of Police or Commissioner of Police and overseen by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Cyber Crime, these stations signify a proactive step towards modernizing law enforcement in the digital age. Notably, the state currently has one operational cybercrime police station, established in 2009.
In a bid to augment police capabilities in cybercrime investigations, the Chief Minister has allocated a budget of Rs 30 crore for the enhancement of the Digital Investigation Training and Analysis Centre (DITAC Lab) at the State Cyber Crime Division and Cyber Crime Investigation and Technical Support Units (CI&TSUs) at the district level.
The infusion of cutting-edge Software Forensics Tools will significantly bolster Punjab Police's capacity to tackle a myriad of cybercrimes, including Child Sexual Assault Material (CSAM), GPS data retrieval, IoS/Android Password Breaking, Cloud data retrieval, Drone Forensics, and Cryptocurrency cases.
Offering further insights, ADGP, Cyber Crime, V Neeraja emphasized the evolving nature of cyber threats, noting that criminals exploit digitalization to exploit vulnerabilities in online infrastructure, affecting individuals and businesses alike. She highlighted the vulnerability of both youth, who frequent social media platforms, and senior citizens, who engage with social media content, to cyber frauds.
The establishment of these new Cyber Crime Police Stations is poised to significantly fortify Punjab's cybercrime combating capabilities, heralding a new era of cybersecurity vigilance, she said.
Meanwhile, Helpline 1930, operational round-the-clock at the State Cyber Crime Office, serves as a pivotal resource for receiving reports on online financial frauds and facilitating the reporting process via the NCRP portal.
BOX
Key Objectives of Cyber Crime Police Stations
· Offering timely assistance and support to victims of Cybercrimes
· Conducting thorough investigations into cyber-related offences to ensure apprehension of perpetrators
· Collaborating with national and international law enforcement agencies, along with cyber security experts, to exchange intelligence and implement best practices
· Enhancing public awareness regarding cyber risks and educating individuals and organizations on preventive measures
· Developing and implementing cutting-edge strategies to proactively address emerging cyber threats
