Though unable to register FIRs of the complainants because of its jurisdiction remaining undefined, Cyber Crimes Police Station has, however, managed to redress as many as 251 complaints related to cyber crimes in six months from October 2015 to March 31 2016 in the State. Things regarding its power to file FIRs hang in fire as the State Government is yet to fix its jurisdiction in consultation with the State’s High Court.
Complaints related to online frauds, lottery, insurance fraud, ATM frauds, credit card frauds, objectionable photographs or videos, comment on the Facebook/email and other social websites were reported and 251 of the complaints were solved in assistance with then SSP/DIG of CCPS. Six persons involved in above crimes were arrested and around `27,17,571 were recovered from the possession of the accused, it is learnt.
Notably, CCPS has no FIR registered since March last year when it was formed. SSP STF P Renuka Devi had recently said that a proposal has been sent to the State Government, seeking determination of jurisdiction of Cyber Crimes Police Station through involving the Judiciary.
Another police officer said that out of three posts of inspector, only one has been deputed. Complaints had been received but no FIR had been registered, she had said.
A total of 32 posts have been created for the cyber crime police station while 23 police officers and police personnel- five sub-inspectors, six head- constables and 12 constables- have been deputed.
The objective with which CCPS was raised is important as it has been assigned to deal with crimes related to online frauds, ATM frauds, credit card frauds, objectionable photographs or videos, comment on the Facebook and other social websites which may lead to communal tension.
The State Government had released notification for establishment of Cyber Crime Police Station under IT Act 2000 and IT Act 2008 (amended) on January 21, 2015. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat had inaugurated the State’s first CCPS in Dehradun on March 25, 2015.
A senior State administration officer claimed that solving as many as 251 cyber related cases in six months was no mean achievement despite being hamstrung by the Governmental apathy to give it full power. Most of the complaints were related to high- profile persons of the society, he said.
Observers say that things hanging in balance regarding the power to lodge FIRs have kept the unit somehow crippled. “Nobody can deny its importance with cyber crimes happening thick and fast in the State. We hope, things would look up now with the President’s Rule being in force,” said one of the observers.