Ahmedabad, Dec 8 (NationPress) In an aggressive initiative to tackle the growing issue of cyber fraud, the Gujarat Police's Cyber Centre of Excellence has initiated 'Operation Mule Hunt'. This comprehensive action strategy is designed to dismantle the entire framework of cybercriminals who are exploiting mule bank accounts.

This operation was discussed in a high-profile meeting led by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who urged police divisions throughout the state to enhance their verification efforts — from banks to local police stations — based on thorough cybercrime analysis.

Sanghavi emphasized that the campaign should extend beyond just identifying account operators; it must also trace back to the masterminds orchestrating these scams. Additionally, he instructed that no innocent account holder should face undue harassment. Individuals whose accounts are unwittingly involved in these scams should be meticulously verified and treated with care.

High-ranking officials, including the CID Crime DGP, police commissioners, range IGs, and district police chiefs participated in the meeting via video conferencing to bolster inter-departmental collaboration and expedite the prevention and detection of cyber fraud across Gujarat.

With a consistent rise in cybercrime over the past few years, including incidents of online financial fraud, phishing, identity theft, and OTP scams, the state is enhancing its digital security apparatus. Gujarat has established one of the most proactive responses to cybercrime in India, supported by a combination of advanced technology, infrastructure, and coordinated law enforcement.

The Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) serves as the central command, applying sophisticated data analytics, AI-driven monitoring, and inter-agency collaboration to identify fraud patterns and dismantle organized cybercriminal networks. The Gujarat Police has also set up dedicated cyber police stations across various districts, established cyber investigation labs, and trained officers in digital forensics to improve the efficiency and quality of their investigations.

Initiatives aimed at the public include statewide cyber awareness campaigns, workshops in schools and colleges, and efforts to encourage citizens to utilize the national helpline 1930 for prompt fraud reporting, significantly enhancing the likelihood of recovery of lost funds.

The government has also integrated its systems with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which facilitates quicker freezing of fraudulent accounts and improved coordination across states.