Cyber expert-cum-ethical hacker Deepak Kumar addresses the workshop in Bhagalpur. Picture by Amit Kumar

Bhagalpur, June 14: Production of identity proof at Internet cafés would soon be mandatory here. The recent spurt in cyber crime compelled police to initiate the move.

A decision to this effect was taken following a workshop organised by the state police headquarters.

Kim, the additional superintendent of police (ASP) of Bhagalpur, said a workshop on cyber crime was organised yesterday. Deepak Kumar, a Patna-based cyber expert-cum-ethical hacker, addressed the police in it.

The ASP said the Bhagalpur police decided to implement the basic norms in cyber cafés functioning in the city after an hour-long discussion.

“The owners of the cyber cafés will now have to maintain record of the surfers. They will have to produce identity proof, address and cellphone number of the people visiting the café if required,” she said.

Kim said in the first phase, the police would conduct a survey of all the existing cyber cafés in the city and ask their owners to follow the basic guidelines.

“From time to time we will check the register of the cyber cafés. This way, we will be able to counter cyber crime to a considerable extent,” she said.

Kumar, who conducted the workshop, first spoke on the basics related to computer operations and the functions of the Internet. He demonstrated different forms of cyber crimes and the possible ways to counter them.

The cyber expert said: “Majority of the cops in places like Bhagalpur are not computer-friendly and cyber crimes are not considered as a major problem here. But we should not be careless towards cyber crimes.”

Kumar briefly discussed crimes like forgery, extortion and kidnapping committed with the help of Internet services. He said the soft targets of cyber criminals include email, mobile phones and credit cards.

He added that workshops like the one he conducted were essential for the cops for prevention of cyber crime.

Kumar earlier conducted workshops for Delhi, Mumbai and Kerala police forces.