The growing scale of digital fraud is creating new challenges for law enforcement, with cybercrime increasingly operating beyond traditional security frameworks, IPS officer Dhruva Kant Thakur said.
Thakur, a Uttar Pradesh cadre officer recently awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, said cybercrime could become the country’s biggest challenge over the next decade. He also stressed the need for a more people-friendly policing approach to strengthen public trust, citing the Jantar Mantar protest as an example.
“The increasing incidents of digital arrests and other cyber crimes demonstrate that cyber crime has emerged as the biggest threat to the country. We have developed multiple frameworks — including multi-channel reporting systems, awareness campaigns, swift blocking of accounts, and outreach to at-risk populations — but these need to be further strengthened. With scammers weaponising digital arrest alongside AI voice and video spoofing, the risks will only rise. It is essential that individuals conduct independent verification by contacting police and bank helplines, rather than responding to strange numbers. Cyber-crime is a comprehensive hybrid scam network operating at a transnational level through organised syndicates,” the 1994-batch IPS officer said.
Thakur currently serves as Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence in Uttar Pradesh. He was recently honoured with the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service following a career spanning 3 decades, during which he held key roles in major police organisations and specialised units.
He also highlighted the need for police to build stronger connections with people born after 2000, calling them a new challenge for existing law enforcement systems.
“It is crucial to promote awareness about the importance of law enforcement in schools, colleges, Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs), markets, and coaching centres,” Thakur said. “Utilising local-language posters, radio, and social media videos will help reach a wider audience and further improve trust between police and citizens.”
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