Patna: The Patna district administration has announced a series of measures to strengthen its response to cybercrime, including the establishment of cyber helpdesks at every police station, stricter monitoring of SIM card vendors and a district-wide public awareness campaign.
The decisions were taken during a review meeting chaired by District Magistrate Kundan Kumar at the Collectorate on Saturday. Officials from the police department and the district’s IT cell attended the meeting.
Focus On Digital Arrests And Bank Fraud
The meeting reviewed strategies to tackle cybercrime, including cases involving so-called “digital arrests”, online banking fraud and other cyber-enabled offences.
The District Magistrate directed officials to use modern technology to identify cybercriminals and ensure prompt legal action against those involved.
He said curbing cyber fraud had become a priority for the administration as criminals continued to target people through online scams.
SIM Card Vendors To Face Closer Scrutiny
Kumar instructed all Station House Officers (SHOs) to maintain strict surveillance over SIM card vendors operating within their jurisdictions.
He directed police to ensure compliance with government regulations governing the sale and purchase of SIM cards and warned that action would be taken against vendors found violating the rules.
Cyber Helpdesks At Every Police Station
To improve support for victims of online fraud, the administration has decided to establish dedicated cyber helpdesks at all police stations across the district.
The administration also decided that cases related to digital arrests, cyber fraud and bank fraud would be reviewed separately during every meeting of the District-Level Banking Coordination Committee.
‘Cyber Tuesday’ Awareness Drive
As part of its preventive strategy, the district will observe every Tuesday as “Cyber Tuesday”.
On these days, police and administrative officials will conduct awareness campaigns focusing on digital arrests, online banking fraud and other cyber threats. Information on cyber safety will also be shared through public outreach camps.
The awareness campaign will begin in schools and colleges, where students will be educated about online safety and measures to prevent cyber fraud, before expanding to other public spaces across the district.
Administration Calls For Greater Vigilance
The District Magistrate said cybercriminals were defrauding people of their hard-earned money and stressed the need for swift identification and action against offenders.
He added that public awareness and vigilance would be critical to reducing cybercrime and protecting citizens from increasingly sophisticated online scams.
