Despite Visakhapatnam being the second city after Bangalore to top the cyber crime list, there is no independent cyber crime police station under the police commissionerate.
What exists is a cyber crime cell, manned by one inspector, who is on deputation from the Central Crime Station, and is assisted by one sub-inspector and five constables.
The State too does not have such a facility post-bifurcation. Prior to bifurcation, there were two cyber crime police stations — one in Cyberabad and the other under the Hyderabad Commissionerate.
They still exist and each is under an ACP rank officer, who is assisted by three CI rank officers. And the combined staff strength is put at over 30.
Since 2011, the number of cyber offences has exceeded the 500 mark in the city. And despite being just a cyber cell and grossly understaffed, the sleuths have detected over 210 cases.
Former Commissioner of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy had sent three proposals to the then government to upgrade the cyber cell into a full-fledged police station, but the proposals appear to gather dust.
“Cyber crime is on the rise and we need to upgrade the cell. It is the need of the hour,” said a senior police officer.
“Moreover, cyber crime is relatively new and our officers have to be trained to handle it,” he added.
Recently, the Maharashtra government had sent 13 officers from the Cyber Crime Department of Mumbai police to the U.S. for training.
The cyber cell in Visakhapatnam lacks basic equipment and software. All that it has is two rickety laptops, which have been borrowed from other departments.
Recently, a senior executive of a private company was on his way to office after drawing cash from a bank.
He was on the move on a two-wheeler when some unidentified persons sprinkled some powder on his back.
He immediately felt an itching sensation. But using his presence of mind, he drove straight to office without stopping. This saved his day.
Appreciating the common sense of the executive, ADCP (Crime) S. Varada Raju said it could be the handiwork of some attention diversion gang.
There is concrete information that inter-State gangs are on the prowl in the city. And they are preying on persons who come to bank to draw cash.
There were about three incidents in the recent times and we had increased our vigilance, he said.
Mr. Varada Raju says the modus operandi varies from case to case.
“They may simply come from behind and gently tap on one’s shoulders to divert the attention or sprinkle chilli powder to distract the victim,” he said.
A senior police officer from the CCS advises people to use bags with slings that can be put around shoulders so that it is not easy to snatch.
