DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Haryana Police is leading the way in cybercrime control across India and is constantly working to improve the cyber security system. Their efforts are putting Haryana on the national map for effectively tackling cybercrime and protecting people's savings.

There has been significant improvement in ranking In September 2023, and Haryana Police ranked 23rd in the country for cybercrime control. However, due to their focused efforts, they achieved a significant improvement and reached the top spot by March 2024. Their success is inspiring other states to implement similar strategies.

Upon taking charge in August 2023, Director General of Police, Shri Shatrujeet Kapur prioritized cybercrime control. He formed a dedicated team and conducted pilot projects with banks. The number of staff assigned to handle cyber fraud calls on the helpline number was doubled.

Haryana Police partnered with banks to freeze bank accounts involved in cyber fraud. This collaboration significantly increased the success rate. An effective action plan to prevent cyber fraud was developed with senior officials from RBI and telecom companies.

ADGP Cyber OP Singh said that Haryana Police launched "Operation Cyber Aakrman" from April 1 to 10. A joint initiative between Haryana Police and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), has yielded significant results.

Utilizing the Pratibimb mobile app, authorities tracked and apprehended 84 cybercriminals, with a notable concentration in Nuh district. Additionally, in coordination with telecom companies, Haryana Police blocked 70,000 mobile numbers associated with cybercrime, and successfully apprehended 11 bank employees involved in facilitating fraudulent activities.

Director General of Police Kapur met with senior bank officials and emphasized the importance of following RBI guidelines seriously to prevent cyber fraud. He stressed the importance of robust EKYC practices to prevent the opening of fake accounts used for illicit transfers. Kapur warned of punitive measures against banks failing to safeguard their customers' deposits, signaling a zero-tolerance approach towards negligence.

Addressing the prevalence of mule accounts, Kapoor underscored the need for banks to scrutinize their practices and promptly close such accounts to thwart cybercriminal activities. It was informed in the meeting that currently about 31 percent of the cyber fraud amount is being frozen by the State Bank of India, which is commendable. For this, the Director General of Police congratulated the team of State Bank of India and said that he would appreciate the efforts made by his bank in this direction.

All bank officials were also taken to visit the workstation of cyber helpline 1930 established at Haryana 112. Senior bank officials obtained detailed information about the process of preventing cyber fraud through the workstations established there, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, impressed by this, immediately appointed its nodal officer in the control room of Haryana Police.
(editor@dailyworld.in)