'Cyber'abad eye on Social media

Cyberabad Police Commissioner C.V.Anand with DGP during the launch of Social media management centre.

Enabling people to easily reach police, the Cyberabad police have launched 'Social Media Management Centre' at its headquarters on Wednesday. 

Launching the centre at the Cyberabad police commissionerate, Telangana director-general of police (DGP) said initiatives like Social Media Management Centre have become the need of the hour in the rapidly changing society. "In this cyber age, a lot of online crime is happening and the new-age communication tools provided by the Social Media Management Centre will allow police to reach people effectively and people can also alert police about crime instantly with photo or video evidence using the social media," DGP said. 

The top cop cited the recently arrested first female ISIS recruiter from India, Afsha Jabeen alias Nicky Joseph's, case as a classic example of how criminal elements were using social media for radicalisation of people. "Nicky Joseph's case is an example of how social media is being used by miscreants for radicalisation and criminalisation of society. By analysing her online activity, we will find out with whom she was in contact," the DGP said. 

The Social Media Management Centre, which has integrated access to Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Linkedln YouTube, blogs and Google Plus accounts of the commissioner's office, traffic, Law & order police stations, can publish messages across all these platforms, monitor people's posts on these accounts, respond to them and also direct police personnel concerned to take necessary action on a particular complaint. 

Cyberabad police had launched Citizen Connect Programme with WhatsApp number (9490617444), where any person can report a crime in the form of text or audio with photo or video evidence. Till date, over 20,000 people used the facility to report crime or give suggestions for better policing. Majority of the complaints were about missing persons, traffic problems, unknown bodies and nuisance at public places. 

The WhatsApp feature would now be integrated with Social Media Management Centre. On the Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts of police stations and the commissionerate, the Social Media Centre staff would post traffic updates, public safety alerts or other relevant information. The Social Media Management Centre would also send bulk SMS to staff and also members of various civilian groups like bankers, jewellers, local people's representatives, mythri group members, media personnel, cinema hall and shopping complex representatives and IT firm representatives with relevant information. Complainants could register on Cyberabadpolice.gov.in to know about case status (FIR status) and updates in the investigation.