Expansion of cyber helpline helps cops save Rs 30 crore from being siphoned off in 2 months | Lucknow News

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police, which has expanded and upgraded its Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 to combat online financial fraud in July, has helped save over Rs 30 crore from being siphoned off by cybercriminals within just two months (August–September).Launched as a dedicated 30-member cyber control room on July 30, the helpline received an overwhelming 3.9 lakh calls in this period, reflecting growing public trust in cyber policing.Initiated on directive of DGP Rajeev Krishna, the move was aimed at ensuring faster response, improved coordination, and a higher rate of fund recovery for victims, said an official.In Aug alone, 2.44 lakh calls were registered, followed by 1.45 lakh in Sept. Of these, about 27,071 calls resulted in FIRs being registered.Director General (Cyber Cell) Binod Kumar Singh said that the surge in cybercrime cases prompted the creation of a dedicated 1930 command centre in Lucknow. “Initially, a small 20-member team at UP 112 was managing 1930 calls, but with the DGP’s strong support, we established an exclusive and well-equipped control room to handle the rising volume of fraud complaints,” he said.In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the UP Police also set up a Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre within the same facility. “We have brought representatives of major banks under one roof. The moment a fraud is reported, the concerned bank official freezes the victim’s money instantly,” DG Singh explained. He emphasised the importance of the “golden hour” in reporting cyber frauds—within two hours of the incident—to ensure maximum chances of fund recovery.Further strengthening its cyber infrastructure, the police department is in the process of establishing digital cyber labs in each district range, which will be integrated into a three-tier network connected to the cyber lab at headquarters. Officers are also being trained on advanced digital forensics and cyber investigation tools. Singh added that a dedicated Integrated Cyber Command Headquarters is being developed at Chak Gajaria, Lucknow, for which land has already been allotted. Construction is expected to begin soon.“All cyber fraud complaints made to 1930 from across Uttar Pradesh are routed through this central command room, which coordinates with district units for FIR registration and further investigation,” another senior officer said. The expansion of Helpline 1930 marks a major leap in UP Police’s technological policing efforts, he said.