SRINAGAR, DEC 05: Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a concerning surge of 31 percent in cybercrimes over the last two years, according to the latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The report discloses that the union territory reported 120 cases of cybercrime in 2020, which increased to 154 in 2021, and further escalated to 173 in 2022, marking a substantial uptick in digital offenses.
Out of the 173 cybercrime cases, a significant portion, comprising 106 cases, were committed with the motive of fraud. Additionally, 92 cases were registered for cheating by personation using computer resources under Section 66D. The report also highlighted 14 cases related to the violation of privacy (Section 66E) and 33 cases concerning the publication or transmission of obscene or sexually explicit content in electronic form (Section 67).
The Jammu and Kashmir Police registered two cases of cyber stalking of women and children under Section 354D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, seven cases of cyber fraud under Section 420 were reported, further emphasizing the diverse range of cybercrimes plaguing the region.
The report detailed that nine cases were registered under the Copyright Act of 1957, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to address intellectual property-related cybercrimes.
In response to the growing threat, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been actively organizing events and programs to raise awareness about cybercrimes. Simultaneously, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Crime Branch has issued advisories related to the latest cybercrimes.
A recent advisory from the J&K Police drew attention to the emergence of AI-based voice cloning as a new form of cybercrime. The advisory cautioned people to remain vigilant as scammers increasingly employ Artificial Intelligence applications to exploit unsuspecting individuals, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to educate and protect the public from evolving cyber threats.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, authorities and law enforcement agencies face the challenge of staying ahead of cybercriminals, underscoring the importance of awareness, education, and proactive measures to mitigate the impact of cybercrimes on individuals and the broader community.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a significant uptick of 38 percent in economic offenses over the past two years, according to the latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The report reveals that the police registered 611 cases of economic offenses in 2020, which increased to 669 in 2021 and further surged to 976 in 2022, indicating a notable escalation.
Economic offenses encompass crimes of an economic nature occurring within the context of business or economic activities. The NCRB specifically classifies certain acts as economic offenses, including company frauds, counterfeiting of coins, and certain terrorist activities.
On a national level, the NCRB report indicates an 11 percent surge in economic offenses, with 193,385 cases registered across the country.
The report highlights that in Jammu and Kashmir, 62 cases of Criminal Breach of Trust under Section 406 to 409 of IPC were registered last year. Additionally, two cases of counterfeiting and 912 cases of forgery, cheating, and fraud were reported in the union territory.
A significant number of cases from the previous year remained pending for investigation, with a total of 1,956 cases awaiting resolution in 2021. The report mentions that 154 cases of economic offenses were reopened for investigation, 129 cases were transferred to other states or agencies, and 192 cases concluded last year as the final report was found to be false.
The police in the union territory disposed of 1,044 cases related to economic offenses. Notably, in the previous year, the government designated the offices of six wings of the Crime Branch J&K as police stations for the registration and investigation of various economic offenses, including special and cyber crimes.
In 2020, the government had sanctioned the establishment of an independent Economic Offenses Wing within the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir, underlining the authorities’ commitment to addressing and combating economic crimes in the region.
