Hi-tech cybercrime training centre to be set up in state: Police – Times of India
Patna: In a bid to strengthen its cybercrime-tackling capabilities and address the high-tech crimes’ growing menace in the state, the Bihar Police is preparing to set up a hi-tech call and training centre.
Besides, as many as 176 police officers selected from across the state would undergo specialised training in cybercrime investigation. These officers will be trained to handle complex cybercrime cases, including financial frauds and identity theft, said senior police officials on Monday.
Additional director general (ADG), police headquarters (PHQ), Kundan Krishnan, while addressing a press conference here, said: “The new hi-tech proposed building in Patna, under the Economic Offences Unit (EOU), will have a specialised training space for officers to learn about cybersecurity. The building will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities so that the police personnel and officials can be imparted training in the state capital, apart from the Rajgir police training centre.”
Krishnan said the new building will house the offices of the IG Cyber, DIG Cyber, three Cyber SPs, and a dedicated SP for cybersecurity. A bank official will also be stationed at the building for round-the-clock assistance in cases of financial frauds. “Additional land is not required for the building, as the police department already has plots. Work on the design of the building is going on,” he said.
The ADG said the govt also recently approved the establishment of two cyberforensic laboratories in the state. These labs will aid in the investigation and analysis of cybercrime cases, helping law enforcement agencies to crack down on cyberoffenders.
“Additionally, the state govt is setting up a dedicated cybercommando wing in collaboration with the Indian cybercrime coordination centre (I4C), ministry of home affairs (MHA). This elite unit will comprise specially trained personnel from Bihar, who will undergo training at premier institutions such as IIT and NIT. As part of the selection process, a screening test for candidates will be conducted in January 2025, in association with the EOU and 14C, MHA,” the ADG said.
Krishnan said in 2024, altogether 301 cases of ‘digital arrests’ were reported across the state, with a total of Rs 10 crore being siphoned off from the victims. The EOU was able to freeze Rs 1.6 crore in connection with these cases.
DIG, EOU, Manavjit Singh Dhillon, who was also present in the press conference, said Bihar Police has set up a dedicated cyberslavery desk within the EOU. “This desk is tasked with verifying individuals from Bihar who travelled to Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand on visas but have not returned home despite their documents expiring,” he said.
“Investigations have revealed that many of these individuals are being forced to work in illegal call centres, where they are coerced into committing cybercrimes against Indian citizens. The desk has so far verified a list of 374 people from Bihar who are suspected to be involved in such activities. The desk is also identifying travel agencies which are involved in this illicit trade. A consolidated list of such eight agencies has been shared with the 14C, MHA, for further action. Two of the agencies are Bihar-based, while six are from other states, especially in Delhi. We are in the process of rescuing the Bihar residents who are trapped in these countries,” added the DIG.
Dhillon added that Bihar is among the top three-four states of the country in freezing the money duped by the cyberfrauds. The state recorded a significant rise in freezing the duped money in the bank accounts from 0.014% in 2020 to 16.78% in 2024.
Besides, as many as 176 police officers selected from across the state would undergo specialised training in cybercrime investigation. These officers will be trained to handle complex cybercrime cases, including financial frauds and identity theft, said senior police officials on Monday.
Additional director general (ADG), police headquarters (PHQ), Kundan Krishnan, while addressing a press conference here, said: “The new hi-tech proposed building in Patna, under the Economic Offences Unit (EOU), will have a specialised training space for officers to learn about cybersecurity. The building will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities so that the police personnel and officials can be imparted training in the state capital, apart from the Rajgir police training centre.”
Krishnan said the new building will house the offices of the IG Cyber, DIG Cyber, three Cyber SPs, and a dedicated SP for cybersecurity. A bank official will also be stationed at the building for round-the-clock assistance in cases of financial frauds. “Additional land is not required for the building, as the police department already has plots. Work on the design of the building is going on,” he said.
The ADG said the govt also recently approved the establishment of two cyberforensic laboratories in the state. These labs will aid in the investigation and analysis of cybercrime cases, helping law enforcement agencies to crack down on cyberoffenders.
“Additionally, the state govt is setting up a dedicated cybercommando wing in collaboration with the Indian cybercrime coordination centre (I4C), ministry of home affairs (MHA). This elite unit will comprise specially trained personnel from Bihar, who will undergo training at premier institutions such as IIT and NIT. As part of the selection process, a screening test for candidates will be conducted in January 2025, in association with the EOU and 14C, MHA,” the ADG said.
Krishnan said in 2024, altogether 301 cases of ‘digital arrests’ were reported across the state, with a total of Rs 10 crore being siphoned off from the victims. The EOU was able to freeze Rs 1.6 crore in connection with these cases.
DIG, EOU, Manavjit Singh Dhillon, who was also present in the press conference, said Bihar Police has set up a dedicated cyberslavery desk within the EOU. “This desk is tasked with verifying individuals from Bihar who travelled to Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand on visas but have not returned home despite their documents expiring,” he said.
“Investigations have revealed that many of these individuals are being forced to work in illegal call centres, where they are coerced into committing cybercrimes against Indian citizens. The desk has so far verified a list of 374 people from Bihar who are suspected to be involved in such activities. The desk is also identifying travel agencies which are involved in this illicit trade. A consolidated list of such eight agencies has been shared with the 14C, MHA, for further action. Two of the agencies are Bihar-based, while six are from other states, especially in Delhi. We are in the process of rescuing the Bihar residents who are trapped in these countries,” added the DIG.
Dhillon added that Bihar is among the top three-four states of the country in freezing the money duped by the cyberfrauds. The state recorded a significant rise in freezing the duped money in the bank accounts from 0.014% in 2020 to 16.78% in 2024.
