With increase in cybercrime cases across the country, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday said that the police need to be proactive in preventing cybercrimes as the consequences “are alarming”.
He was speaking after inaugurating a one-day conference of Director General of Polices (DGPs) of southern states and senior officials from central police organisations held at Bengaluru.
“The number of cyber attacks in the country has increased over the years. It has become very common. It not only harms an individual but also poses a threat to national security. Cyber attacks and crimes have led to financial losses, damaged reputation leading to endangering lives in some of the cases. There is a need to use advanced forensic tools in investigation of cybercrimes that are helpful in tracking down cyber criminals and securing the digital evidence needed for prosecutions,” he added.
He also pointed out Karnataka’s proactive measures in tackling cybercrimes, being the first state in the country to establish a cybercrime police station back in 2003. Now, every district and every division commissionerate has Cyber Economic and Narcotics Crime (CEN) police stations which deal with cybercrimes.
Urging law enforcers to be one step ahead of criminals, Siddaramaiah pointed that the threat of terrorism needs to be dealt with better coordination among the states. “The terror threats have continued to evolve and Karnataka has been witnessing it since 1990. Intelligence gathering and sharing information among the state will play a crucial role to curb terror activities,” he said.
“The threat of terrorism continues to evolve, becoming more and more sophisticated and global in nature. Karnataka has faced incidents of terrorism since 1990. Though all cases were detected and proper charge sheets were filed, some ended in conviction and some are still under trial. Law enforcing agencies should always be on high alert. Better coordination, intelligence gathering and sharing of information amongst states will be very vital. You must prioritise intelligence gathering, coordination, cooperation and targeted actions against terrorist organisations,” he said.
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The Chief Minister said the police should adapt to evolving challenges, from traditional criminal activities to the digital sector. He emphasised the need for continuous modification of police tactics and strategies to combat modern forms of crime effectively.
Siddaramaiah praised the Karnataka Police for their efforts in drug control, international drug network busts and apprehending drug peddlers. While Naxal activities have been curbed in the state, he stressed the importance of cooperation between Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu to address the issue.
Stating that crimes now have no borders, he said there is a need for mutual exchange of information, resources and techniques among the states to combat crimes. He emphasised that inter-state coordination is essential, given the diverse cultural backgrounds, languages and geographical challenges in South India.
First published on: 13-09-2023 at 22:02 IST