Zonal Cyber Cells in Hyderabad for swift response to digital offences | #cybercrime | #infosec

Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand at the inauguration of Zonal Cyber Cells in the city limits on Thursday (May 29, 2025).
| Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G

The Hyderabad police on Thursday (May 29, 2025), inaugurated Zonal Cyber Cells (ZCCs) across all seven police zones in the city to provide decentralised, swift, and efficient responses to the growing volume of digital offences.

Their tasks

The Zonal Cyber Cells are tasked with several critical responsibilities: promptly register complaints on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, block fraudulent transactions, facilitate refunds for victims, enhance detection rates to track and apprehend cybercriminals and work in tandem with cyber forensics experts to investigate complex cases. They will also hold public awareness campaigns on cyber safety.

The move comes against a backdrop of a surge in cybercrime cases over the past decade: from 351 cases in 2015 to 3,111 in 2024, marking an increase of over 786%. The sharpest spike was recorded between 2019 and 2020, when cases nearly doubled from 1,393 to 2,550.

Each unit will be staffed with trained officers and function directly under the supervision of the respective Zonal deputy commissioner of police, enabling faster case resolution and better engagement.

The ZCCs will work closely with the Cyber Crimes Police Station (CCPS) for technical support and expertise. The CCPS, established in 2010 with 40 personnel, saw a major boost in manpower in 2023. It now operates with 147 staff members, including a deputy commissioner, additional DCP, nine inspectors, and 20 sub-inspectors, among others, who played a key role in training the ZCC personnel.

A total of 61 officers were deployed across the ZCCs, including inspectors, sub-inspectors, head constables, police constables, and home guards. These officers underwent an intensive training programme conducted by the CCPS and supported by cyber forensics and legal experts from external organisations. The training focused on practical investigation techniques, digital evidence handling, and emerging cyber threats.