Cyber Fraud Every 15 Minutes in Himachal; Shimla, Mandi, Kangra Identified as Hotspots
DIG Mohit Chawla
Shimla, June 13:
Cybercrime in Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a sharp and worrying rise. DIG Cyber Crime, Mohit Chawla, in a press conference held in Nahan, outlined the evolving nature of cyber threats and the proactive steps being taken by the state police to counter them. He highlighted that post-COVID, the surge in digital usage has directly contributed to a spike in cybercrime.
“The pattern of crime has changed—conventional crimes are now shifting to cyberspace,” DIG Chawla said. With Himachal Pradesh ranking second in the country in mobile and internet usage, it has become a lucrative target for cybercriminals.
On average, the state registers three cyber fraud complaints every 15 minutes. Weekly, scams amounting to ₹1 to ₹1.25 crore are being reported. In 2024 alone, frauds totaling ₹114 crore have already come to light.
Shimla, Mandi, and Kangra have emerged as cybercrime hotspots, prompting intensified efforts by the cybercrime police wing. These efforts are showing results. In 2023, the state’s recovery rate from cyber fraud stood at just 3.22%, but it has now increased to 19.76%—well above the national average of 12%. The recovery rate in Sirmaur district alone is 17.26%, for which DIG Chawla praised the SP and his team.
He also explained that as per a 2024 Himachal High Court order, citizens can now recover money lost in frauds involving less than ₹20 lakh using a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by either the cyber police station or the concerned district police station. This model is now being followed by several other states as well.
Currently, nine cyber commandos are deployed in Himachal, with 29 more to be inducted this year. DIG Chawla confirmed that Sirmaur will soon have cyber commandos posted too.
All 11 police stations in Sirmaur are now connected in real-time to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), and a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre will be established soon in the district to further strengthen surveillance and rapid response.
DSP Headquarters Ramakant Thakur has been appointed as the cyber nodal officer for Sirmaur.
The centralized cybercrime helpline 1930 receives over 600 calls daily from Himachal Pradesh, with 6–8% coming from Sirmaur. DIG Chawla urged citizens to promptly call 1930 in case of any online fraud to maximize the chances of timely recovery.
Interestingly, 1.5–2% of calls to the helpline are now being made by school children, indicating growing awareness about cyberbullying and other digital threats.
Concluding the press conference, DIG Chawla lauded the efforts of Sirmaur’s SP and his team, stating that the district is emerging as a model in the fight against cybercrime and could serve as an example for others across the state.
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