Srinagar, Apr 14: In a significant step towards strengthening cyber defence, Jammu and Kashmir has officially joined the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) national initiative to train 5,000 Cyber Commandos. The programme is part of a broader strategy to build a robust national response to the alarming surge in cybercrimes across India.
As part of the mission, three constables from the Jammu and Kashmir Police are currently undergoing an intensive six-month residential training programme at the National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (NFSU) in Goa. The course, launched on March 24, is being conducted under the direct supervision of MHA-appointed cybersecurity experts.
According to an official communiqué, the training is designed to equip participants with advanced skills to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats. Trainees will receive hands-on instruction in incident response, threat mitigation, digital forensics, and secure network practices, with applications across critical sectors.
Once certified, the Cyber Commandos will be strategically deployed in key government departments, defence institutions, and private organisations, where they will play a pivotal role in securing digital infrastructure and responding swiftly to cyber incidents.
The course curriculum has been meticulously designed to reflect the evolving landscape of cyber threats, covering everything from fundamental networking and IT concepts to advanced cybersecurity protocols and real-time threat analysis.
A senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that Jammu and Kashmir will receive its proportional share of Cyber Commandos under the initiative. “There is already strong interest from the Union Territory, particularly following the successful completion of the first training batch at IIT Kottayam in March this year,” the official said. “The government is evaluating a proposal to increase the intake from J&K in future phases.”
Cybercrime in J&K has seen a significant spike over the past few years. In 2020, 120 cases were reported with 33 arrests. This rose to 154 cases and 102 arrests in 2021, and 173 cases with 76 arrests in 2022. In 2023, Kashmir Cyber Police registered 39 FIRs, resolved 583 complaints via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP), and recovered over Rs 2 crore.
In 2024, 577 complaints were filed, 30 FIRs registered, and 31 arrests made. Police also seized 150 mobile phones, blocked 1,833 fraudulent SIM cards, and recovered Rs 4.6 crore. In addition, 920 financial complaints and 580 related to social media misuse were addressed.
“While the pattern of cybercrime in J&K mirrors national trends, the growth curve is sharper,” the MHA official noted. “With the induction of trained Cyber Commandos, we anticipate a transformational impact on the region’s capacity to combat cybercrime.”
