In a significant move to combat the rising tide of cybercrime and streamline the grievance redressal process, the Hyderabad police on Friday unveiled a dedicated help desk named 'Cyber Mitra' (C-Mitra). This initiative is designed to assist victims in registering electronic First Information Reports (e-FIRs) without the need to physically visit a police station.
A Digital Lifeline for Cybercrime Victims
The 24-member call centre, inaugurated at the Cybercrime Police Station in Basheerbagh by Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, aims to directly reach out to individuals who have already reported incidents to the national cybercrime helpline, 1930. The core mission of C-Mitra is to save valuable time for complainants and free up police station personnel to concentrate on investigations. Commissioner Sajjanar highlighted that registering an FIR in person typically consumes an average of three hours, a process C-Mitra seeks to drastically shorten.
Officials revealed a critical gap in the current system: only about 18% of complaints received via the 1930 helpline and the national portal are currently converted into formal FIRs. The Hyderabad police have set an ambitious target to boost this conversion rate to 100% through the proactive intervention of the C-Mitra team.
How the AI-Integrated C-Mitra System Works
Explaining the operational mechanics, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes) M Srinivasulu detailed that the C-Mitra team will access details of victims based in Hyderabad from the 1930 helpline database and contact them directly by phone. Trained personnel will first ascertain if the victim wishes to proceed with an FIR.
Upon receiving consent, an AI tool integrated with the C-Mitra platform will generate a draft complaint. This draft is formulated using information already provided to the 1930 helpline, supplemented by any additional details the victim shares during the call.
The e-FIR Process: WhatsApp to Physical Signature
The generated draft complaint is then shared with the victim via WhatsApp for review. Once the victim verifies and is satisfied with the content, they must download the document, physically sign it, and submit it. Submission can be done either by depositing it in a designated drop box at the Cybercrime Police Station or by sending it via post.
Upon receipt of the signed complaint, the cybercrime police will formally register the FIR. A copy of this e-FIR will be sent back to the victim on WhatsApp, along with the contact details of the investigation officer assigned to the case. For complaints falling outside Hyderabad's jurisdiction, a zero-FIR will be registered and transferred to the concerned police station.
Future Plans and Digital Evolution
Looking ahead, police officials stated that the department is considering the introduction of a digital signature system in the future. This upgrade would eliminate the last remaining physical step—the requirement for a wet signature—making the entire process fully digital and even more convenient for citizens across Hyderabad.
