Andhra Pradesh to Establish Cyber Crime Stations Across Districts to Combat Cyber-Enabled Human Trafficking

In a significant move to counter the rising threat of cyber-enabled crimes, Andhra Pradesh will establish Cyber Crime Stations in every district headquarters. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha announced this during the National Consultation on Countering Cyber-Enabled Human Trafficking (CEHT), held on Thursday. The initiative is part of the central government’s broader mission to combat the growing menace of cybercrime.

Minister Anitha emphasized that the creation of Cyber Crime Stations is a crucial step in developing a comprehensive national action plan to address cybercrime, particularly focusing on human trafficking. The consultation also saw the release of the “National Action Research Report” on cyber-enabled human trafficking, a detailed study by the NGO Prajwala, supported by the US Consulate in Hyderabad.

The report revealed shocking findings about how technology is increasingly being used to facilitate various forms of human trafficking, including child trafficking for sexual exploitation, recruitment into war zones, and online criminality. The presence of state leaders, including Women and Child Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani, DGP Tirumala Rao, IT Secretary Saurabh Gaur, and US Consul General Jennifer Larson, highlighted the importance of the issue.

This two-day event brings together representatives from 27 states, including senior police officers, public prosecutors, judicial academy directors, and civil society members. The aim is to finalize a draft plan that will act as a roadmap for state governments to implement strategies against cyber-enabled human trafficking. Once the recommendations are compiled, they will be sent to the central government for adoption.

Anitha praised the collaboration, stating that Andhra Pradesh is the first state to bring out a comprehensive plan to combat cyber-enabled human trafficking. She also acknowledged the support of the US Consulate in Hyderabad for its contributions to this mission. Minister Rani added, “The collective effort seen here today has provided us with a clear pathway to tackle this growing crime.”

US Consul General Jennifer Larson called the consultation a “landmark event,” emphasizing the global commitment to eradicating cyber-enabled human trafficking and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.

This initiative marks a key milestone in Andhra Pradesh’s efforts to build a safer state and contribute to a global effort in tackling cyber-enabled human trafficking.