MUMBAI: City police on Friday will open an exclusive cyber cell, called e-panchayat, to look into cyber-related crimes. The ‘panchayats’ will be held twice in a month at Tardeo. People affected by Net crimes can approach the cell through e-mails, or chat sessions. Officers will act as panelists and redress consumers’ grievances.  

Vijay Mukhi, president, Foundation for Information Security & Technology (FIST), and a consultant for the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell, told DNA: “E-panchayat was launched act as forum to solve the increasing number of cyber crimes and look at how the public is falling prey to them.” Mukhi said FIST’s role is of an advisory body to the Cyber Crime Cell.

aving recognised the need for personal security on the Net, the Mumbai police has launched its first cyber adalat. He said the city police already had a Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) that registers complaints related to the Internet. It includes complaints like obscene mails, dissemination of offensive material, electronic vandalism and extortion and illegal interception of e-communication.

ukhi said the system is flexible and can accommodate additional features and modification. The system has been developed keeping in mind the core operations of a panchayat.

hile talking about a raising awareness about cyber crime, how to complete safe online transactions and setting up e-panchayats in buildings in 2007, Mukhi said that it is a separate programme that will be handled by the police and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM).

Having a semi-official forum like the e-panchayat should improve the reporting of cyber crimes and hence facilitate their resolution,” said Kamal Kashyap, ex-DGP, Maharashtra and president, FIST.

he e-panchayat will be in session from 4pm to 6pm on the first and third Fridays of each month at VMCI, Everest Building, Tardeo.

The initiative will be a perfect forum for the common man to air grievances in an amicable and comfortable set-up. Such panchayats will be regularly held at convenient venues,” said Mumbai police commissioner AN Roy, who will inaugurate the first e-panchayat on Friday at Tardeo.