THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of increasing number of cyber crimes, three more cyber police stations will be set up in the state, home minister Ramesh Chennithala informed the Assembly on Thursday.
A cyber police station each will be set up under Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode police ranges. The one in Ernakulam range would be set up as a priority, the minister said while replying to a submission moved by Hibi Eden of the Congress.
At present, there is only one cyber police station, in Thiruvananthapuram, and cyber complaints are piling up at the station, he said.
The minister also said that more women police personnel will be imparted training on cyber forensics and posted in the cyber police stations in view of the increasing complaints from women.
He also lamented that the recent scrapping of Sections 66-A of the IT Act and 118-D of the Kerala Police Act had adversely affected charge-sheeting in many cases.
Hibi Eden in his submission pointed out that despite Kerala Government initiating several projects for the protection of women and children including Nirbhaya Keralam-Surakshitha Keralam, cyber crimes have increased manifold in spaces like Facebook and WhatsApp. He also cited the recent incident in which actor and dancer Asha Sharath had to face embarrassing moments on the Internet.
Ready to face probe, says Rabb
Education minister P. K. Abdu Rabb said that he was willing to face any probe in connection with the delay in printing school textbooks. He also told the House that the delay in printing teachers’ handbooks for higher secondary classes was due to corrections in the cover design. CPI MLA V. S. Sunilkumar demanded a vigilance probe into the allegations regarding the delay.
Matsyasamridhi 2nd phase launch
Fisheries minister K. Babu said that the second phase of the Matsyasamridhi project that aimed at enhancing fish production would be launched on August 10. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will launch the programme that envisaged various programmes like training people and setting up of fish farms.
