PROTECTING THE COMMON CITIZEN On 17th Nov'18 Saturday morning, I received a threat from a hacker, who somehow obtained my address/ pass word, threatening to flood my mail with malaware/virus and expose all my mails maliciously, unless I pay thousands of dollars in Bit Coins to given address within 3 days! I could not change my pass word which was blocked, try as I might, everything seemed jammed! I am a senior citizen, not a computer geek! I contacted BSNL, my seervice provider, who said they would send a technician. When contacted, he point blank said that is my personal problem, I next rang 100 emergency thrice in vain! I then requested the advice of editor Gomantak Times who advised me to contact a senior police officer who in turn gave me the number of Cyber Cell officer to contact, who in turn said he is in Pune, however would send someone from Porvorim police station. A constable (not computer savvy) was sent who recorded by photographs, was briefed in detail by me, assuring he would immediately send details to Cyber Cell at Ribandar. On Monday afternoon I contacted Porvorim police station for progress and to my shock, they wanted written complaint! This was immediately done same day and allowing reasonable time, on Wednesday I contacted person at Cyber Cell Ribandar, who said he will take action when the matter reaches his table and get then back to me! This was too lethargic, so I rang Pune again and I was told he was on leave, which no one initially told me. I apologised and decided "If it is to be, it is up to me". I managed to access and also change my password with the help of technician at the BSNL Altinho office, Panaji. On Thursday I personally complained to the DG Police at Panaji HQ, who was kind enough to send the concerned Cyber officer to help. I was further perturbed that till he came, he had not yet received my wrtten complaint, 6 days ago to Porvorim police station, so no action! On Friday visiting the Porvorim Police station to investigate why the delay, the said SP is on leave but I got the constable who said the complaint was sent and not admitted because they also wanted some identity proof! Why was I unable to contact the busy SP those days? Due to IFFI and so on! I am disappointed at the ineffective police protection that the common citizen can expect to get when required. I asked Cyber Cell by sms for progress and SOP for complaint, Answer was "under process, once done will update you, SOP as normal!". Normal surely does not exhibit efficiency/urgency and must be updated in public and nation's interest? Digital India requires fast moving competent cyber cell and SOP that people know so that cyber crimes can be reported quickly and sucessfully prevented/actioned for safety of citizens, now requiring to go digital for banking and every service more and more?
