Maharashtra forms think-tank to tackle crime

The state government has set up a cyber monitoring cell in the intelligence unit on the lines of the Scotland Yard’s cyber cell. The cell will keep track of every offence registered in the state and analyse the information it gets from various agencies.

A cabinet committee, headed by deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, formed to find ways of modernising and strengthening the security forces approved the formation of the cyber cell. The cell will have 345 officers.

“The officers of the cyber monitoring cell will not go on the field,” Bhujbal said. “They have been asked to do only one thing — think. They will think about the various angles related to any offence and try to get closer to the culprit. They will study the modus operandi of criminals from across the world. They will analyse the data available and give their suggestions.”

The minister said an officer from the cyber monitoring cell would not be transferred. “He will get increments and promotions in that cell only. This will help him to concentrate on the job instead of joining the race for good postings.”

The committee interviewed around 12,000 people and selected 345 for the cell. The first batch of these officers recently completed training at the Maharashtra Intelligence Academy in Pune. Officers from the second and third batches are being trained.

Bhujbal said Scotland Yard was his inspiration. “At a conference in Chicago, I came to know about Scotland Yard’s cyber cell,” he said. “I was told that their officers sit before computers and continuously think about the various angles of a crime. Their success rate is amazing.” The committee has appointed an agency to set up a control room from where officers can keep tabs on the CCTVs installed at various places in the city.