In a major initiative to combat growing cyber crimes, the Maharashtra on Monday launched a comprehensive Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) through the operationalisation of 34 cyber laboratories across the state.
Announcing the commencement of the operations of 34 cyber cells in the, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on the occasion of the 70th Independence Day: “The 34 cyber laboratories are out a total 51 such labs that we intend to set up in the state by December this year. The labs will come in handy for the Maharashtra police in tackling complex crimes in the cyber era we are in”.
Fadnavis said that under the CCTNS, a dedicated cyber police force would be developed and “We will train 1,000 policemen under CCTNS to handle cyber crimes across the state,” he said.
The CM said that the cyber labs would analyse mobile forensic and call detail records. He said that the Maharashtra police would develop a mobile application by October this year to provide services to the people under CCTNS.
Speaking at an inauguration ceremony of the Cyber lab project held at the World Trade Centre here, Fadnavis said: “ With the increased use of internet, criminals are using advanced techniques to commit newer types of online crimes. I am confident, the Cyber labs will track down the criminals involved in online crimes...Advanced technology will be deployed for the safety and security of all the citizens and their properties through the Cyber Police Force”.
The CCNTS will facilitate linking of all police stations across the state with one another for sharing information about crimes in their respective jurisdictions “in real time”, a scenario that that would make a ‘Digital Police Force’ a reality in Maharashtra.
linked by secure high-speed fibre optic cable network, the data from the cyber labs will be at the disposal of the police to address security concerns of private organizations and banks among others, the chief minister said.