The incidence of cyber crimes in the country went up significantly last year. In 2015, the number of cases booked under the cyber crime category rose 20.50 per cent to 11,592 from 9,622 in the previous year, according to the latest report of the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB).

Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 2,208 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 2,195; Karnataka: 1,447; Rajasthan: 949 and Telangana: 687.

What is worrying is that cyber crimes are growing at an alarming rate in States such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.

However, the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), an arm of IT industry lobby Nasscom, sees this development as recognition of a huge problem. “It shows that the awareness levels in the law-enforcing agencies have gone up. It is a very important step in dealing with the challenge,” Vinayak Godse, Senior Director (Data Protection), DSCI, told BusinessLine .

The NCRB report shows a sharp rise of 41 per cent in the number of people arrested under these cases from 5,752 in 2014 to 8,121 in 2015.

The report, however, shows a serious mismatch in the number of cases filed and number of charge-sheets filed. The police submitted charge-sheets only in a fourth of all cases, leaving 7,634 ‘pending investigation’.

Cases under various stages of investigation have crossed the 14,000 mark, showing the increasing strain on law-enforcing agencies in dealing with the cyber crimes.

Awareness levels

The DSCI said governments and police departments have realised the importance of raising awareness among law enforcing agencies.

“Earlier they would either refuse or show reluctance in booking cases. Now, the growing numbers reflect the appreciation by the government,” Godse said.

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