QRT in cyber command unit to crack down on cyber attacks

New SOP for probe, liaision with RBI & payment gateways

Bengaluru: Investigators from across Karnataka with technical expertise in cybercrime investigations will be handpicked to establish a Quick Response Team (QRT) under the newly announced Cyber Command Unit (CCU), according to well-placed sources in the Home Department. 

The QRT will be one of the important wings of the CCU, which will be headed by Director General of Police (DGP) Pronab Mohanty. 

Karnataka has become the first state in India to have a DGP-ranked officer to oversee cybercrime investigations. DH was the first to report the development. 

On Wednesday, the home department issued an order on establishing the CCU by separating the Cyber, Economic and Narcotic (CEN) Crime wing from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Interestingly, the whole revamp will happen without any extra expenditure.  

Karnataka accounts for 20% of cybercrimes in mega cities in India, reporting 52,000 cases in the last four years. 

The QRT will not only focus on cybersecurity and cyberattacks, but also analyse their patterns to predict and prepare for futuristic cybercrimes.

Specific skill sets 

For QRT, the CCU will draw investigators with specific skill sets and interests required for cybercrime investigations. 

“Beyond cybercrimes involving monetary loss, there are security breaches and data thefts that are equally important. Major data thefts happen this way, so it is important to tackle them as well,” a source said. 

QRT will look into such breaches and tackle thefts from government departments, corporate companies and data centres. 

According to the source, who spoke to DH on condition of anonymity, there will not be any random transfers of investigators to CCU.

Instead, it will be staffed with only those officers having necessary skill sets and relevant interests.

In case investigators and police staff have interest but no required skills, they will undergo required training before being deputed to QRT. 

Graft complaints

“There are a lot of complaints about corruption in cybercrime investigations, especially during freezing and defreezing money. So, identifying and cracking down on such investigators and plugging gaps will be the CCU’s major immediate focus,” said the officer. 

The CCU will also oversee 45 CEN police stations. The CCU chief will also be the chief information security officer, a post previously held by DGP (police computer wing). 

Probe procedures

The CCU will also standardise cybercrime investigation procedures and coordinate with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), payment gateways and other financial institutions. 

A special empowered committee looking into misinformation and cyberfrauds will also come under the CCU.

The multi-departmental coordination committee, which looks into attempts to spread fake information and anti-social news, has also been brought under the CCU. 

“These units have been clubbed to ensure seamless communication and smooth conduct of cybercrime investigations,” the source noted.