Telangana Top Cop Wants Policing in Line With the Changing Nature of Crime
Anand revealed that people in Telangana have lost around Rs 1,700 crore to cybercrimes during last year
Warangal: Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) C.V. Anand has called for changes in policing in line with the changing nature of crime, with special focus on emerging challenges, such as cybercrime, spread of narcotic drugs, financial offences, and road accidents.
Speaking at a review meeting on the functioning of Warangal Commissionerate at NIT Warangal on Saturday, the DGP directed officials to prevent in the initial stage itself attempts to target youth and children, and push them into drug addiction. He called for effective use of emerging technologies to control cybercrime and provide better services to the public.
Anand revealed that people in Telangana have lost around Rs 1,700 crore to cybercrimes during the last year. He said the chances of recovering money decline when victims fail to report fraud immediately. He asked people to remain cautious about investment frauds promising high returns.
The DGP revealed that Telangana has secured the first position in the country in controlling cybercrime in the Prime Minister’s Pragati review.
During the review meeting, officials of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), T-SPARK, and CID made presentations on cybercrime trends, investigation procedures, and new technological systems. Anand made it clear that technology should supplement policing and not replace it.
He directed police stations to receive and resolve complaints immediately, with greater focus on monitoring investigations and court cases. DCPs, ACPs, and DSPs should spend more time in the field and remain accessible to the public, he underlined.
The DGP expressed concern over attempts to lure children into narcotic use by disguising drugs as chocolates. He warned that stringent action would be taken against those involved in such offences. He asked educational institutions to play a crucial role in preventing drug abuse.
Warangal police commissioner N. Swetha, in a presentation, said the commissionerate has 50 police stations. Only 2,976 personnel are available against a sanctioned strength of 3,758, leaving 782 posts vacant. She said the commissionerate has intensified surveillance of inter-state gangs arriving by trains from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, committing chain-snatching and motorcycle thefts in Warangal, Hanamkonda, and Kazipet and leaving immediately afterwards. Information sharing and surveillance systems are being strengthened with the assistance of NATGRID, she explained.
Anand appreciated the “Nenu Saitham” initiative of Warangal Commissionerate to install CCTV cameras with public participation, particularly within the limits of Nallabelly and Parvathagiri police stations.
Recalling his association with Warangal, the DGP said his IPS career began in the region, where he underwent training and later served as Warangal Rural SP. He said the peaceful situation prevailing in the Warangal region today, which had once faced the full impact of Left-wing extremism, is a result of sacrifices made by police personnel, many of whom turned martyrs.