Srinagar: In a significant step towards strengthening the cyber security architecture and enhancing the capacity to combat cybercrime in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, sanction has been accorded for the establishment of the Jammu & Kashmir Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (JK4C) as an independent organization under the overall superintendence and control of the Director General of Police, J&K.
An official statement issued here today said that the newly established JK4C will serve as the nodal cybercrime coordination agency for the Union Territory and will be responsible for coordinating, preventing, detecting and investigating cybercrimes across Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre will function in close alignment with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, ensuring seamless coordination with the national cybercrime framework.
According to order issued by home department, the JK4C will be headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), who will function as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Centre.
As part of the restructuring, the subject of cybercrime has been detached from the Crime Wing of J&K Police and will henceforth be exclusively handled by the JK4C.
The Government has further ordered that the existing two Zonal Cyber Crime Investigation Centres of Excellence (CICEs) and 23 District Cyber Police Stations shall become integral components of the JK4C, thereby creating a unified and coordinated institutional mechanism for tackling cybercrime across the Union Territory.
The order also stipulates that the proposal for creation of various posts required for the functioning of the JK4C shall be processed separately in accordance with the prescribed procedure after completion of all requisite formalities.
Pending the creation and regular filling of sanctioned posts, the Police Headquarters, J&K, has been directed to deploy the required number of police personnel of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) and below from the existing police strength to ensure the Centre becomes operational without delay.
The Government has also approved the organizational structure, tentative staff strength, operational framework, workflow of various verticals, and the functions and responsibilities of different divisions and units of the JK4C, as detailed in the annexure accompanying the Government Order.
The establishment of the JK4C is expected to significantly enhance the Union Territory’s preparedness to address emerging cyber threats, improve inter-agency coordination, strengthen cybercrime investigations, and provide a more robust institutional framework for safeguarding citizens against cyber-enabled offences.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government Friday ordered a major reshuffle in the police department, transferring five senior IPS officers to the newly-established JK Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (JK4C) as part of a concerted effort to strengthen the Union Territory’s cyber crime fighting apparatus.
The transfers, ordered with immediate effect, were issued by the Home Department, according to a government order accessed news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS).
Sheikh Junaid Mehmood, IPS, currently holding the charge of In-charge IGP, has been posted as the Chief Executive Officer of JK4C. Sameer Sharma, IPS, who was serving as DIG Armed Jammu, has been transferred and posted as DIG of the cyber coordination centre.
Mohd Yaseen Kichloo, IPS, Principal of Police Training School Talwara, has been made SSP Administrative Wing of JK4C with the additional charge of SSP Cyber Operations Wing. Ramnish Gupta, SSP CICE Jammu, has been posted as SSP Cyber Investigation Wing.
In a separate move, Shwetambri Sharma, SP who was awaiting a posting, has been assigned as SP of the Online Crime against Women and Children Wing.
The government said the salaries of the transferees will be drawn against overall reserves till further orders. All officers have been deemed relieved from their previous postings with immediate effect.
The reshuffle comes amid rising incidents of cyber fraud, online financial scams, and digital crimes against women and children in the Union Territory, with officials emphasising the need for a specialised and dedicated cyber response framework. (With PTI Inputs)
