Gandhinagar, July 29: The Gujarat Police have initiated ‘Operation Safe Cyber Space’ across the state to ensure the safety of women and children on online platforms. Running from July 1 to July 28, this campaign involved the police’s She Team and Cyber Cell staff, who educated participants about online threats such as sextortion, financial fraud, and deepfakes. The initiative aimed to teach children how to use the internet safely.
Gandhinagar student Hina Makwana shared her experience, stating, “There was a program on cybercrime where Saurabh Sir and another teacher provided us with valuable information about cyber safety, Abhayam, and the women’s helpline, which will be useful in the future.”
Another student, Kinjal Parmar, explained that cybercrimes can be categorized into two types: financial cybercrime and social media-related offenses. She noted that financial cybercrime often involves OTPs and web links. “We were advised not to click on these links and to never share OTPs. Any issues should be reported to the police at 1930,” she added.
The primary goal of this campaign is to prevent cybercrimes through community engagement, technology-based monitoring, victim outreach, cyber awareness, and prompt legal action. During ‘Operation Safe Cyber Space,’ children were also informed about how to contact the police in case of trouble and how to file complaints at the cyber helpline number 1930.
Constable Binl Jagdishchandra from the She Team mentioned, “We conduct seminars in schools to educate children about good touch and bad touch. We aim to alleviate their fear of the police and explain that we are their friends. If they face any issues, they can reach out to us.”
In the first two weeks of the campaign, the Gujarat Police organized over 5,000 awareness programs statewide. During the first week, 1,874 programs focused on cyber literacy and awareness. In the second week, 3,415 special sessions addressed serious online threats such as sextortion, deepfakes, and cyberstalking.
Ajay Kumar Chaudhary, ADGP of the Women’s Cell and CID Crime, stated, “Incidents like fake profiles, digital blackmail, and cyber revenge have become common. Many people spend more than eight hours on their mobile devices. We are conducting a special drive across the state to raise awareness about what they should be cautious of and how to protect themselves from fraud.”
Through these awareness camps, the police have not only established direct contact with millions of citizens but have also provided detailed information to parents, teachers, and youth about cyber fraud. Additionally, cyber rallies and seminars have been organized in various districts to enhance community participation and inform people about digital safety.
Clearly, in today’s digital age, it is crucial for individuals to be aware of online fraud, and the Gujarat Police’s ‘Operation Safe Cyber Space’ campaign has proven effective in this regard.
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