Hyderabad: Telangana witnessed a sharp 43.33% rise in cybercrimes in 2024, with the state reporting a total of 25,184 cases compared to 17,571 in 2023.
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The overall crime rate also saw a significant jump of 22.53%, as revealed in the annual crime report by Telangana Director General of Police (DGP), Dr. Jitender.
Cybercrime Trends in Telangana
The rise in cybercrime has been accompanied by stronger recovery measures.
Also Read: Telangana DGP Warns Maoists: Stay Out of the State
- Refunds to Victims: A record ₹180 crore was traced and refunded to cybercrime victims in 2024, marking a 2,060% increase from ₹8 crore in 2023.
- Freezing Funds: ₹247 crore was frozen during ongoing investigations, compared to ₹128 crore last year.
- Preventive Actions: The police blocked 14,984 SIMs, 9,811 IMEIs, and 1,825 URLs/websites linked to cyber offenders.
Crime Statistics Overview
From January to November 2024, Telangana reported 1,69,477 cognizable crimes, up from 1,38,312 in 2023. The report highlighted an increase in violent crimes such as murders, rapes, robberies, and burglaries.
Combating Maoist and Extremist Activities
The DGP emphasized that Maoist activities remain under control in Telangana.
- Neutralized Threats: Police conducted four encounters, neutralizing 14 extremists and seizing 24 firearms.
- Arrests and Surrenders: 85 extremists were arrested, and 41 surrendered, including key members of CPI (Maoist) and CPI (ML) ND.
Anti-Drug Measures: Towards a Zero-Drug State
Telangana aims to become a zero-drug availability state, with the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) spearheading efforts against drug trafficking.
- Cases and Arrests: TGANB registered 1,942 cases, arrested 4,682 individuals, and seized drugs worth ₹142.95 crore.
- Property Seizures: Properties worth ₹55.8 crore linked to drug offenders were frozen, with ongoing processes in 122 cases.
Adapting to New Criminal Laws
Telangana made a seamless transition to the new criminal law regime on July 1, 2024.
- Digitally Signed FIRs: Telangana became the first state in India to issue digitally signed FIR copies under the new laws.
- Cases Registered: A total of 85,190 cases were filed under the new laws between July 1 and November 30, including 15,360 in Cyberabad, 10,501 in Hyderabad, and 10,271 in Rachakonda.
Key Achievements and Focus Areas
- The state police have prioritized law and order, cybercrime control, and anti-drug measures.
- Telangana’s proactive steps, such as the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) update, reflect its commitment to combating modern crimes effectively.
