New cybercrime wing to combat digital fraud: CM
Bhubaneswar: Faced with a massive rise in cybercrime, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi Monday announced setting up of a specialised wing that will probe cybercrime investigations in the state.
Majhi said investment frauds and digital arrest along with other scams need a specialised probe team.
“Fraudsters have been swindling substantial sums from unsuspecting citizens. The govt’s initiative includes establishing a dedicated unit to supervise digital crime investigations across all cyber police stations, with a senior IPS officer at its helm,” Majhi said.
The govt intends to place a senior IPS officer in charge of this new wing, which will be based in Bhubaneswar, Majhi said during the concluding session of the state-level police meet in Cuttack.
Odisha police statistics show an 18% rise in cybercrime, with cases increasing to 2,348 in 2023 from 1,983 in 2022. In the assembly, CM Majhi recently revealed that cyber fraudsters acquired over Rs 125 crore from victims between 2021 and 2023, with police recovering merely Rs 2.77 crore, which translates to a meagre 2 %.
The CM’s written statement revealed an exponential increase in online trading and investment fraud victims in Odisha, rising to 18,994 in 2023 from 105 in 2022. By November 2024, the victim numbers reached 40,270.
Presently, cyber police stations operate in 14 districts, established in 2021. Majhi outlined plans to open additional cyber police stations in the remaining districts to assist victims. He affirmed the govt’s dedication to enhancing cybercrime investigators’ capabilities through advanced tools and technology.
DGP Y B Khurania said initiatives to bolster cyber investigation units statewide are underway. He emphasised awareness was crucial for cybercrime prevention, noting that IT specialists are training police personnel in complex crime analysis.
“We will launch massive awareness campaigns on cyber safety. We urge people to immediately report the fraud to our 1930 cyber helpline. The helpline police personnel would immediately coordinate with banks,” Khurania said.
Majhi also asked police to deal with criminals with an iron hand. “Protection licence given by the previous govt to criminals has expired. Our govt will not renew it. We have issued blank cheques to the police to punish the goons. My govt stands firmly with the police,” Majhi said.
Majhi said investment frauds and digital arrest along with other scams need a specialised probe team.
“Fraudsters have been swindling substantial sums from unsuspecting citizens. The govt’s initiative includes establishing a dedicated unit to supervise digital crime investigations across all cyber police stations, with a senior IPS officer at its helm,” Majhi said.
The govt intends to place a senior IPS officer in charge of this new wing, which will be based in Bhubaneswar, Majhi said during the concluding session of the state-level police meet in Cuttack.
Odisha police statistics show an 18% rise in cybercrime, with cases increasing to 2,348 in 2023 from 1,983 in 2022. In the assembly, CM Majhi recently revealed that cyber fraudsters acquired over Rs 125 crore from victims between 2021 and 2023, with police recovering merely Rs 2.77 crore, which translates to a meagre 2 %.
The CM’s written statement revealed an exponential increase in online trading and investment fraud victims in Odisha, rising to 18,994 in 2023 from 105 in 2022. By November 2024, the victim numbers reached 40,270.
Presently, cyber police stations operate in 14 districts, established in 2021. Majhi outlined plans to open additional cyber police stations in the remaining districts to assist victims. He affirmed the govt’s dedication to enhancing cybercrime investigators’ capabilities through advanced tools and technology.
DGP Y B Khurania said initiatives to bolster cyber investigation units statewide are underway. He emphasised awareness was crucial for cybercrime prevention, noting that IT specialists are training police personnel in complex crime analysis.
“We will launch massive awareness campaigns on cyber safety. We urge people to immediately report the fraud to our 1930 cyber helpline. The helpline police personnel would immediately coordinate with banks,” Khurania said.
Majhi also asked police to deal with criminals with an iron hand. “Protection licence given by the previous govt to criminals has expired. Our govt will not renew it. We have issued blank cheques to the police to punish the goons. My govt stands firmly with the police,” Majhi said.
