Hyderabad: In a major move to combat the surge in digital fraud, Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand on Wednesday launched Zonal Cyber Cells (ZCCs) across all zones of the city, decentralising the battle against cyber crime.
Until now, the city had only one central Cyber Crime Police Station. But with cases soaring by 786% over the last nine years from 267 in 2016 to over 3,100 in 2024 the need for a more localised and responsive system became urgent.
“The numbers speak for themselves. We’re now dealing with 35 different categories of cyber crime many involving social media abuse and online scams,” Anand said at the launch event. “Covid-19 accelerated the digital shift, but it also exposed more citizens to fraud.”
Under Government Order 50, a total of seven Zonal Cyber Cells have been created, each equipped with its own dedicated task force. A total of 61 personnel have been deployed each ZCC comprising a Sub-Inspector, five constables, and two home guards. Only technically proficient staff have been assigned to these posts, the Commissioner added.
Each ZCC will be responsible for investigating cases involving fraud amounts ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹1 lakh. Smaller cases will be routed through regular legal channels. The cells will function from DCP offices in each zone, operating under the direct supervision of the respective zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police.
“These teams are designed to ensure no complaint goes unaddressed. Our long-term aim is to evaluate the performance and workload of each ZCC and eventually set up full-fledged cyber crime stations wherever necessary,” Anand said.
The move is expected to significantly reduce investigation backlogs and bring faster resolution for victims of online fraud and digital harassment.
