Union Home Minister Amit Shah awards Kerala Police for proactive measures in curbing cybercrimes against women and children.

Delhi – In a significant recognition of its efforts, the Kerala Police was awarded by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for its exemplary work in preventing cybercrimes, particularly those targeting women and children. The award was presented by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Kerala Police Chief Dr. Sheikh Darvesh Sahib and Cyber Operations SP Harishankar during a ceremony in New Delhi, marking the first anniversary of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).

Key Highlights:

Massive Cybercrime Crackdown: Kerala Police successfully deactivated 27,680 fraudulent bank accounts, 11,999 SIM cards, and 17,734 websites used in online scams under its Cyber Fraud and Social Media Wing.

Social Media Fraud: Over 8,369 fake social media profiles and 537 counterfeit mobile apps were identified, leading to appropriate legal action.

International Fraud Networks: Investigations revealed foreign-based online fraud operations targeting Indian citizens, resulting in 17 registered cases, with 51 agents identified and 16 arrests made.

Operation P-Hunt: This special operation, aimed at cracking down on child exploitation online, led to 395 cases being registered, 37 arrests, and the seizure of 881 electronic devices across 2,347 searches.

Online Fraud Helpline Success: Kerala Police’s 1930 cybercrime helpline received 23,748 complaints in 2023, recovering ₹37 crore out of the ₹201 crore lost in online fraud. In 2024, until August, ₹70 crore was recovered from ₹514 crore reported in 27,723 complaints.

Proactive Training Initiatives:

Cybercrime Training for Officers: Over 1,000 police officers have been trained in cybercrime detection, with 360 officers receiving specialized training in three phases.

Cyber Commando Course: 24 officers from Kerala Police have been selected for the Cyber Commando Course, a six-month training program led by the central government.

The award recognizes Kerala Police's sustained efforts to enhance cybersecurity and protect citizens from the growing threat of online crimes.