- Statewide 28-day mission combines technology-driven policing, legal enforcement, cyber intelligence and mass public outreach to create a safer digital ecosystem for women and children
- Gujarat Police pledge action within 24 hours on every cyber complaint involving women and children, while targeting cyberstalking, online exploitation, financial fraud, identity theft and digital harassment
- Campaign aims to educate 25 lakh citizens, administer Cyber Safety Pledges to 20 lakh students and conduct awareness programmes in 10,000 schools and 1,500 colleges through coordinated stakeholder participation
- Initiative complements India’s evolving cybercrime framework, reinforcing preventive policing, victim-centric justice and digital rights in an era of escalating online threats
NE LEGAL BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, JULY 2
In one of Gujarat’s most comprehensive cyber safety initiatives, the State Police have launched a 28-day statewide campaign—’Operation Surakshit Cyberspace’—that seeks to combine technology-driven policing, legal enforcement and public participation to safeguard women and children from the rapidly growing menace of cybercrime.
The campaign, launched on July 1 under the guidance of Director General of Police G.S. Malik, will continue until July 28, focusing on intelligence-led policing, cyber awareness, victim assistance and coordinated enforcement to strengthen confidence in the digital ecosystem.
The initiative comes amid growing national concern over cyber offences targeting women and children, including cyberstalking, online sexual exploitation, identity theft, financial fraud, impersonation, digital blackmail and online harassment. Recent policy initiatives and institutional measures at the national level have also placed greater emphasis on cyber hygiene, awareness and victim-centric responses. (Deccan Chronicle)
Announcing the campaign, Ajay Choudhary, Additional Director General of Police, CID Crime (Women Cell), said the operation reflects Gujarat Police’s commitment to protecting vulnerable sections in the digital age.
“The objective of this operation is to strengthen public safety in the digital ecosystem, especially for women and children, who are increasingly becoming victims of online exploitation, cyberstalking, financial fraud, identity theft and other cyber-related crimes. Being conducted under the guidance of DGP G.S. Malik, the campaign aims to proactively identify potential victims, prevent financial losses, improve cyber awareness and ensure timely police intervention through coordinated action at every level.”
Under the operation, police personnel across Gujarat have been directed to identify potential victims through cyber intelligence inputs, verify cybercrime alerts, counsel vulnerable individuals, facilitate immediate reporting through the National Cyber Helpline (1930) and ensure prompt registration and investigation of offences.
The campaign also mandates extensive field verification, victim outreach and the use of analytical and cyber-intelligence tools to detect threats before they escalate into serious crimes.
In a significant legal assurance, Gujarat Police have committed to initiating preliminary action within 24 hours on every cyber complaint involving women and children—a move expected to strengthen victim confidence and improve the effectiveness of criminal investigations.
Recognising that cyber safety extends beyond policing, the State has adopted a multi-stakeholder approach by partnering with banks, telecom service providers, educational institutions, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), non-governmental organisations and community leaders to expand awareness and promote responsible digital behaviour.
Implementation on the ground will be spearheaded by SHE Teams and dedicated Cyber Crime Police Stations, which will conduct awareness drives for women, children, parents, students and educational institutions on issues such as cyberstalking, online harassment, digital privacy, safe internet practices and cyber fraud prevention.
The campaign has adopted the slogan: “Safety through awareness, investigation through technology, action through law, and a safer Gujarat through public participation.”
Setting ambitious statewide benchmarks, Gujarat Police aim to educate 25 lakh citizens on cyber safety, encourage 20 lakh students to take the Cyber Safety Pledge, organise awareness programmes in 10,000 schools and 1,500 colleges, reach one lakh adolescent girls through focused awareness sessions, and conduct 5,000 parental awareness programmes to strengthen family-level protection against online risks.
The initiative builds on Gujarat Police’s recent citizen-centric operations involving the protection of vulnerable groups and reflects an increasingly preventive and intelligence-based policing model that combines enforcement with community engagement.
Officials said the overarching objective is to build a safer, more inclusive and legally secure digital ecosystem, where technology, public awareness and swift law enforcement work together to deter cybercrime and safeguard the constitutional rights, privacy and dignity of women and children in cyberspace.
