Nellore to get high-end cyber lab to fight crime

Nellore: A high-end cyber lab to curb modern day crimes is coming up in Nellore soon. As part of strengthening crime laboratories across Andhra Pradesh, Nellore district is the first one to have the state-of-the-art cyber lab on the pilot basis.

The Police department had planned to set up sophisticated laboratories for their crime-related analysis across the state at around 20 places that include 18 rural and urban police district unit offices in 13 districts. A central lab was proposed in Vijayawada linked to all units in the state for coordination.

Initially, small units in all districts were planned but the department changed the idea and considered state-of-the-art labs and proposed to start two units initially for testing their efficacy on pilot units. As part of the proposals, it was decided to set up a lab in Nellore and other in Vijayawada.

Exercises were completed for last five months and the Union Home ministry also provided sufficient funds for the project. Each lab costs around Rs 2.5 crore proposed to set up in Nellore and Vijayawada.

Officials, who are working on the labs, said that there would be data analysis wing for call data records, other important data of public life along with high-end servers and software. Other major component of the lab is digital forensic laboratory with data retrieval/ analysis from mobile phones, laptops, computers, Ipods and other routine equipment for communication and other needs.

Further, Internet lab with ethical hacking facility for entering various software or systems for getting the data connected to the crime. Besides all these technical wings, there would be documentation lab for recording all issues for future verification.

“Out of 30 shortlisted, 12 sub-inspectors, head constables and constables, who are tech- savvy and interested in crime investigation, were selected. They were trained to operate the laboratory.

Amongst them, seven were given advanced training too. Twenty new recruits who are sound in technology were also provided training and they would be posted to the circle offices for basic screening of issues who subsequently forward the complicated cases to the lab at the district headquarters,” said PHD Ramakrishna, Superintendent of Police.

The high-end technology would be useful for solving difficult and typical crimes in an easy way using analytical techniques. The new recruits would also be given advanced training in crime investigation using technological competence, Ramakrishna said.