The cell will cater to cyber crime cases, right from hacking to online financial frauds, registered across the city. After Ahmedabad, Vadodara will be the second city to have cyber crime cell. "We got permission for starting cyber crime cell some time back following which we began working on it. The cell will have all the modern facilities including latest software and hardware. Cops posted in the cell will be trained in operating latest gadgets and cracking cyber cases," said police commissioner Rakesh Asthaana.
About 25 cops are currently being trained in using advanced facilities. A police inspector has already been given charge of the cell that will take off within 20 days. The cyber crime cell will be located on the spacious fifth floor of the Police Bhavan — headquarters of city police. The floor is currently being renovated. "The entire floor will be dedicated for the cell. We will be installing biometric card system on the entrance so that only employees will be able to enter the cell. We don`t want any disturbance or outsider walking into the cell," said a police official.
The city police has studied cyber crime cell models in cities like Mumbai and Delhi and are making Vadodara cell on those lines. The incidents of cyber crimes have been rising in the city over last few years but the police department hadn`t kept itself updated with the contemporary methods of internet crimes. Cops posted at police stations failed to understand the intricacies of cyber crime and turned away complainants. "I had a tough time explaining my case to cops when my estranged husband threatened to post my nude pictures online. They refused to register my case as they were not aware of cyber crimes," said a complainant.
However, victims of cyber crimes can now directly approach the crime branch that will register such cases and investigate it.