West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday launched cyber help desks and women help desks in all 500 police stations across the state.
“Cyber crime has taken the form of an epidemic. Even marginalized people, who share their account numbers while filling forms for various social programmes, are being targeted. These people have very little money in their accounts and are dependent on the financial assistance provided by the government. Every week, senior citizens call me during Janata Darbar with such complaints. They complain that their entire savings are being looted,” Adhikari said.
He was addressing an administrative program at the State Secretariat. The Prime Minister also launched all-women Durga Suraksha teams in municipal towns.
“We are planning to appoint a senior IPS officer from ADG or IG to be in charge of all cyber help desks and cyber crime police stations across the state and work in close coordination with the union home ministry,” he said.
“Providing security to women is high on the priority list of this government. The government will follow a zero-tolerance policy. I realize that there is a shortage of manpower and infrastructure and you had to accommodate the help desks within the same police station. But until then, I would request you to try to ensure that no complaints regarding these services reach my office through the government helpline,” the Prime Minister said.
“The cyber help desks will remain active 24/7 and will ensure speedy registration of cases with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) through Helpline 1930. Time is very important in resolving cyber crime cases,” said Sid Nath Gupta, state Director General of Police.
“Women’s help desks will not only register FIRs related to crimes against women, but will also help victims of domestic violence, arrange counseling for victims and help women during emergencies,” Gupta said.
The Chief Minister also directed the state police not to suppress any case and share all statistics and data related to the crime with the Union Home Ministry.
“The previous government did not share the data with the Centre. We should not hide the numbers. If we know what the disease is, we can come up with a cure for it,” Adhikari said.
