Ludhiana police open modernised cyber cell

Nikhil Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 29

The Ludhiana police today inaugurated its newly renovated, updated and modernised cyber cell at the Sarabha Nagar police station building. It will decrease the dependence of the city police on the Mohali cyber cell police station.

Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP) Rakesh Agrawal, along with Joint Commissioner of Police J Elanchezian, Rupinder Kaur Bhatti, ADCP (Investigation), Vaibhav Sehgal, ACP, Cyber Crime-I, and Kulwant Singh, ACP, Cyber Crime-II, inaugurated the cell.

The CP said with the rising cases of cyber crime, a need was felt to upgrade and differentiate the working environment of the cyber cell from that of a regular police station.

The new cyber cell consists of offices for ACP Cyber 1 and 2, in-charges Cyber zone 1 and 2 and separate working cubicles have been created for IOs in a modern cyber lab.

“It would allow better and efficient distribution of work. Moreover, new hardware and software infrastructure will be added to the cyber lab to ensure quick, time-bound redressal of complaints and technical and scientific investigation in cases of cyber crime, “he said.

Along with enhancing the capabilities of the Ludhiana police, the upgrade would create an overall public-friendly environment by providing better facilities for the public at large, Agrawal said, adding that moreover, it would ensure greater privacy to complainants which would encourage more people, especially women, to reach out to the Cyber Cell to air their grievances.

Cyber cell daily receiving 300-400 complaints: ADCP

ADCP (Investigation) Rupinder Kaur Bhatti said the cyber Cell received on an average of 300-400 complaints every month in 2020-2021. Despite this huge workload, staff shortage and impact of Covid lockdown, the Cyber Cell had an impressive performance in 2020-21. Nearly 1,700 complaints had been disposed of, resulting in registration of only 28 FIRs in the past year itself. Along with this, the Cyber Cell has ensured recovery/refund to the amount of Rs 40 lakh in the past one year, thus saving the hard-earned money of citizens.

The CP added that at present, cyber crime unit (CCU), Ludhiana, was investigating cases under 21 different crime heads and there were approximately 2,600 complaints pending for inquiry in the unit. The Cyber Cell was the only cell that covers the entire vast jurisdiction area of the Ludhiana Commissionerate with 28 police stations and a population of over 40 lakh. Ludhiana being an industrial and modern city, cyber crime cases had been increasing rapidly. Besides, the CCU was also receiving complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which is functioning under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme by the Ministry of Home Affairs. In these complaints, inquiry was conducted/completed in a time-bound manner. Hence to expedite the inquiry/investigation of cyber complaints/cases, there was a proposal to set up a cyber police station in Ludhiana with increased staff and latest technical capabilities.

Inspector Pawan Kumar, Cyber Cell in-charge, said the cell had been regularly using social media networking sites to create awareness among the public regarding various types of cyber crimes.

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