In view of the number of cyber crime cases spiralling alarmingly, State police are planning to strengthen the Special Task Force, Uttarakhand, to crack them swiftly. With this in view, they are all set to empower it with all the powers enjoyed by a normal police station. A proposal has already been sent to the State Government on the matter, said State Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sidhu on Wednesday.
STF Uttarakhand is equipped with modern technologies involving crores of rupees which can be of immense help in promptly cracking cyber crime cases. As of now, STF team is empowered with investigating only the registered cases and with arresting the culprits. However, FIR cannot be lodged with it and police officers have no other option but to transfer the case to the local police station.
During review of cyber crime cases, it has been observed that the gravity of such offences often eludes the investigating officers. This is so because the role of STF is limited to providing them with mere technical support. Due to lack of coordination among the police officers, cases take ages to get solved.
To solve cyber crime cases swiftly, it is imperative to strengthen the Special Task Force, Uttarakhand. This is why we have decided to empower it with all the powers enjoyed by a normal police station. Such a proposal is now pending before the State Government, DGP added.
STF Uttarakhand Senior Superintendent of Police Senthil Akdai Krishnaraj said there has been a significant rise in cyber crime cases in several police stations of the state. Police are getting befuddled as offenders are committing cyber crimes through social networking sites and mobile messaging application. This is making it difficult for the cops, shorn of technical knowledge, to dig deep. Such cyber cases are booked under IT Act in the local police station and the investigating officer probes with the help of mobile location and other cyber evidences.
The investigating officers who are finding it hard to rightly deal with the cyber crimes tend to seek technical support from STF Uttarakhand to solve it. It should be mentioned here that as of now, STF, Uttarakhand is being headed by SSP and other senior police officers, including additional SP Mukesh Kumar. Besides, inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables, are also there on deputation. With adequate number of police officers and personnel being there on deputation, no extra deployment of police force is needed if the STF, Uttarakhand is empowered with all the powers enjoyed by a normal police station.