Cyber crime spikes 375% in a year
With a smartphone in every hand and easy access to the Internet through personal computers and hand-held devices, cyber crime cases in 2013 have increased by a whopping 357% from 2012.
With a smartphone in every hand and easy access to the Internet through personal computers and hand-held devices, cyber crime cases in 2013 have increased by a whopping 357% from 2012.
Even in 2014, at least eight such cases have been reported so far in Ludhiana. Most of the cases have been registered against youngsters, reflecting the alarming situation.
In 2012, seven cases were registered under the Information Technology (IT) Act, which increased to 32 cases in 2013, a 357% rise. However, even as cases of cyber crime increased in 2013, the police are yet to arrest any of the offenders. Even in 2012, the police had arrested only one such accused.
This year, the police have so far arrested three accused booked under the IT Act and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In Punjab, 72 cases were registered under the IT Act in 2012, and the figure doubled in 2013 at 146 cases. The Ludhiana Police have a separate technical support cell that deals with the cases registered under the IT Act, but has limited approach and resources.
The cell traces mobile phones and call details, but seeks other details from the Chandigarh Police’s cyber crime cell.
Police commissioner Pramod Ban said Ludhiana police had traced several cases of cyber crime, adding that efforts were on to strengthen the technical support cell.
Dr Rajiv Sharma, former psychiatrist at Guru Teg Bahadur Charitable Hospital, said parents should sentitise their children about judicious use of technology. Children are often unaware of what’s legal and what’s not, and indulge in various activities over the internet, which could land them in trouble, he added.