VIJAYAWADA: Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta on Friday reviewed the operational plan of ‘AP Cyber Guard’ and proposed reforms in cyber crime policing during a video conference with district police officers, commissioners, range officers and technical services wing officials.
He said cyber offences had increased sharply in scale, sophistication and financial impact, making it necessary to strengthen cyber crime response systems across the State.
The DGP said the police department, IT department and other agencies had prepared a focused 90-day action plan to improve cyber infrastructure, manpower and operational capabilities.
He said every district and supervisory officer must actively participate in building a robust cyber crime response ecosystem and added that cyber crime policing could not remain confined to specialised units alone.
Referring to directions issued by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Harish Kumar Gupta said the police department would give special priority to the “golden hour” mechanism for quick recovery of money lost in online frauds.
He said the first 30 minutes after a victim reports cyber fraud through the 1930 helpline are crucial for fund recovery. “The proposed AP Cyber Guard framework envisages a mandatory 30-minute lien-marking mechanism for banks,” he said.
The DGP outlined a six-pillar strategy that includes establishing a 24x7 Cyber War Room, integrating the 1930 helpline with real-time bank alert systems, deploying AI-driven cyber monitoring platforms, training 500 officers in the first phase, creating a three-tier cyber response structure and launching statewide awareness campaigns.
He also directed officers to review the functioning of Central Crime Stations and police stations to address emerging law and order challenges.
Harish Kumar Gupta further ordered a statewide crackdown on abusive, inflammatory and unlawful social media activity targeting constitutional authorities, public institutions and governance systems. He said police units had been instructed to identify organised digital networks allegedly spreading fake content, hate campaigns, intimidation and communal provocation.
He warned that police would initiate strict legal action under the BNS, Information Technology Act and other applicable laws against offenders.
The DGP said AP Police viewed such unlawful digital activities as a serious emerging threat affecting public order, institutional integrity, democratic governance, cyber security and the overall law and order environment.
“Freedom of speech and democratic expression are protected within the constitutional framework. However, organised abuse, malicious propaganda, criminal intimidation,
hate-driven campaigns, circulation of falsehoods and unlawful digital activity aimed at disturbing public order or weakening institutional authority will invite legal consequences,” he said.