J’khand villages to boycott families of cyber criminals
ACTION Will also impose hefty fine on kin who ‘support’ cyber crime DHANBAD:
With a few individuals bringing bad name to their village due to alleged involvement in cyber crime, two villages — Ghosko and Chamliti — under the Gandey block here of Giridih district have decided to impose hefty monetary fine on families who ‘support’ cyber crime besides boycotting them socially.
Gandey block has emerged as one of the epicentres of cyber crime in recent years. Out of the 250 peole arrested in connection with cyber crime cases over the past one year in the district, over 50 cases had been registered against residents of Ghosko and Chamliti alone, police officials said.
Police sources say, around 35 people have been arrested from Gandey block in past one month alone, with police from different states including Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab having raided different villages in this block in search of cyber criminals who have duped people across the country.
These areas in Giridih, coupled with few pockets in the neighbouring Jamtara district, have emerged as a major hub of cyber crime. While mostly netsavy youngsters are directly involved in the crime, police sources say the pattern is fast expanding as several family elders have also started turning blind eye to the deeds of their wards due to the easy money garnered through the route.
“Our village has become cyber crime den. It often faces raids from police making lives of innocents difficult as well. When the Giridih SP launched an awareness drive (about cyber crime), we also decided to join hands. It’s time to ensure that our future generation gets rid of criminal activities. We have decided to impose a fine of Rs 51,000 against any family found involved or supporting such crime,” said Guli Mondal, a resident of Ghosko.
Mondal had headed a meeting in the village last Sunday, which was attended by residents from the two villages, where the decision to fine the families involved was arrived at.
“It was also decided to boycott families who are either involved in cyber crime or even support cyber criminals. We will apprehend cyber criminals and handover them to police,” he added.
The community decision is said to be an outcome of the ongoing drive against cyber crime initiated by Giridih superintendent of police V Varier.
Welcoming the decision of the two villages, Varier said, “We are getting a a positive response due to the awareness drive.”
The officer said police had filed charge-sheet in 50 cases and were preparing charge-sheets in other cases as well to ensure speedy trial and conviction.
The Giridih police have also sent proposal to Enforcement Directorate for confiscation of property of those involved in cyber crime.