Cyber volunteers to help Himachal cops curb fraud

To assist the Himachal Pradesh Police in curbing cybercrime, 112 persons from across the state have registered as cybercrime volunteers on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

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As per the state police data, while seven persons were approved as cyber volunteers, 92 applications had been forwarded to police stations concerned. Eighteen applications had been rejected by the police.

The Himachal Pradesh Police had received 30 applications for cyber expert, 38 applications for cyber awareness promoter and 24 for cyber volunteer to flag unlawful content.

For cyber expert, 11 applications were received from Kangra district, six each from Shimla and Hamirpur districts, three from Mandi, two from Una and one each from Baddi and Solan.

For cyber awareness promoter, nine applications were received from Kangra, eight from Mandi, six from Hamirpur, four from Shimla, three from Una, two each from Solan and Kullu and one each from Chamba, Bilaspur, Sirmour and Lahaul & Spiti districts.

For cyber volunteers who will flag unlawful content, five applications were received from Kangra, four each from Mandi and Una, two each from Shimla, Chamba, Sirmaur and Solan and one each from Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kullu districts.

The Cybercrime Volunteers Programme of the Central Government aims to bring together citizens having passion to serve the nation on a single platform and contribute in fight against cybercrime.

Under the programme, interested people have been appealed to register themselves as cybercrime volunteers in the role of unlawful content flaggers. These volunteers will be allowed to provide assistance as well as facilitate the law enforcement agencies in identifying, reporting and removal of illegal and unlawful online content.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Cybercrime, Mohit Chawla said that more than 100 persons from across the state had registered themselves on the NCRP portal in order to be a cyber volunteer. “At present, we are scrutinising the list of the people who had applied to become cyber volunteers. In the first phase, screening of candidates was conducted. We phased out the unqualified candidates who lacked the quality to bear the responsibility of becoming a cyber volunteer. In the second phase, we are conducting the police verification of the candidates,” he added.

The DIG said with the help of cyber volunteers, the police will be able to increase awareness regarding various cybercrimes. He said the volunteers will be a great help in reducing the cybercrime cases in the state.

“We are looking for qualified, capable and responsible citizens as volunteers who will help the police in cyber intelligence, cyber awareness and in investigation as well,” he added.