Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police of Bhubaneswar-Kataka has launched a public awareness campaign under its Cyber Rakshak initiative, reminding citizens that stalking is a punishable offence and not a form of attention or affection.
Police have specifically highlighted the dedicated Cyber Crime Helpline number 1930 (toll-free) and the national portal www.cybercrime.gov.in for filing complaints.
In an advisory, the police highlighted that stalking violates an individual’s privacy and personal space without consent, causes fear, anxiety, mental harassment and emotional trauma, and amounts to misuse of technology. The law treats it as a serious crime with strict penal provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 66E (violation of privacy) attracts imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh, or both. Publishing or transmitting obscene material under Section 67 can lead to up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs 5 lakh on first conviction, and up to five years with a fine of Rs 10 lakh for subsequent offences.
More severe sections dealing with sexually explicit material and child sexual abuse material carry even higher penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment and fines of Rs 10 lakh.
Citizens have been urged to respect privacy, stay responsible online, and immediately report any cyber stalking or related offences.
