Andhra Pradesh cybercrime cells will be established in every district, with specialised teams and about 20 cyber constables each, as the state police expand their response to online offences, Director General of Police Harish Gupta said in Vijayawada on Wednesday.
Gupta was speaking at the inauguration of the Cybercrime Coordination Centre, or C4, of the NTR Police Commissionerate. The centre, located on the third floor of Krishna Lanka police station, has been developed with support from the Andhra Pradesh Police Housing Corporation and includes specialised facilities and modern technology, according to the police.
The DGP also announced plans for a dedicated cyber war room and a Cyber Guard policy. He said cybercrime had emerged as a serious challenge for the state and said the police were shifting their focus to online offences after bringing the drug menace under control, following directions from the Chief Minister.
The district-level C4 centres will be supported by specialised teams, while a dedicated cyber sub-inspector will be posted at every police station, Police Commissioner S.V. Rajasekhar Babu said. The appointments are intended to strengthen the investigation of complaints and improve the tracing of digital evidence and offenders.
Babu said the C4 centre would analyse information received through victims’ complaints, develop digital trails and follow leads to prevent further offences and support the recovery of money. The centre will also coordinate responses to complaints and assist investigations within the commissionerate.
The police urged victims of cybercrime to report incidents immediately. They said complainants should call the National Cybercrime Helpline at 1930 or register complaints through the government’s cybercrime portal. Prompt reporting can improve the chances of tracing transactions and recovering lost funds, the police said.
The expanded network will also have an awareness and prevention role. Cyber personnel will conduct programmes in communities and promote cyber-safety measures through social media. The police are training cyber sub-inspectors and other personnel in advanced technology and investigation methods.
Public-awareness campaigns featuring characters such as ‘Khaki Babu’ and ‘Cyber Chitti’ are being promoted online. Publicity vehicles and drones carrying audio messages are also being used to reach residents, according to the police.
The C4 inauguration was attended by Andhra Pradesh Police Housing Corporation managing director M. Ravi Prakash, senior police officers, deputy commissioners of police, additional deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners of police. The district centres, specialised appointments and the proposed cyber war room form part of the next phase of the state’s cybercrime response system.
