Industry offers help to fight cyber crime

Gurgaon, Feb. 14 -- Worried over the Gurgaon police's capability in investigating hi-end cyber crime incidents, the information technology companies (IT) have taken the task in their hands. Going ahead with the idea, IT firms decided to enhance skills of the police in dealing with cyber crime investigation. For this,

they have planned to accord free of cost training in high-end cyber crime fighting techniques, forensics and investigation.

The help has also been offered to strengthen infrastructure and provide more space.

A meeting has been called on February 23, in which IT industry experts will meet Gurgaon police commissioner SS Deswal to formulate strategy in this regard.

On this occasion, the industry might offer assistance from the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

At present, the 11-member cyber crime cell with four computers and a basic internet connection operates in a more than 60-year-old building at Sohna Road. The 20 by 15 feet room that constitutes the cyber crime cell has not been whitewashed for years and had cobwebs all over. "There is a serious concern in all corners of IT industry about the large capacity gaps that prevails in the cyber crime unit of the Gurgaon police. In a meeting held between the police department and IT companies on October 29, some of the companies had extreme reactions against the lack of law enforcement in solving Cyber Crime, with some even abandoning Gurgaon as their city of operations," says IT expert Deepak Kapoor, who has been instrumental in bringing the two sides together.

In the October 29 meeting, leaders from industry met law enforcement (Gurgaon police) in the presence Rao Inderjit Singh, the Member of Parliament from Gurgaon and also the chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology.

"This may point to an alarming side of things, if not corrected immediately. Fortunately everybody recognises (in varying degrees) that the problem persists. Most also agree to put in their bit for a solution, which may be workable and impart significant progress to things as they stand today. We have offered to improve the cyber crime wing free of cost not only with infrastructure but also expertise," Kapoor adds.

Gurgaon police commissioner S S Deswal said it was a welcome step from the IT industry that had offered to assist the cyber crime wing free of cost. "If industry can offer some space along with the expertise, this will be a welcome step."

Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.

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