Bihar Police is getting ready to open a high-tech call and training center in an effort to improve its capacity to combat cybercrime and handle the state’s increasing threat of high-tech crimes.
Additionally, up to 176 police officers who were chosen from all throughout the state will receive specialized training in investigating cybercrimes. According to top police officials on Monday, these cops would receive training to deal with complicated cybercrime issues, such as identity theft and financial scams.
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.
According to the ADG, the government recently gave its approval for the state to create two cyberforensic labs. In order to help law enforcement authorities clamp down on cyberoffenders, these laboratories will support the investigation and analysis of cybercrime cases.
“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.
A total of 301 “digital arrests” were recorded throughout the state in 2024, according to Krishnan, and a total of Rs 10 crore was embezzled from the victims. In relation to these incidents, the EOU was able to freeze Rs 1.6 crore.
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.
According to Dhillon, Bihar is one of the top three or four states in the nation for freezing money that has been stolen by cybercriminals. The percentage of bank accounts that were frozen due to fraud increased significantly from 0.014% in 2020 to 16.78% in 2024, according to the state.
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