Gujarat Police has conducted more than 5,000 awareness programmes across the state in just the first two weeks of its month-long 'Operation Safe Cyber Space' campaign, targeting cyber threats faced by women and children. The drive, running from 1 July to 28 July, is being led jointly by the force's She-Teams and Cyber Cell personnel across all districts of Gujarat.

Scale of the Campaign

In the campaign's first week, 1,874 cyber literacy and awareness programmes were organised. The second week saw an additional 3,415 special sessions, focused specifically on serious online threats including sextortion, deepfakes, and cyberstalking. Alongside school seminars, the campaign has encompassed cyber awareness rallies and public meetings held across Gujarat's districts.

What the Sessions Cover

The awareness drive educates women, children, parents, teachers, and young people about a wide range of cyber threats — from financial fraud and OTP scams to social media-based cybercrime. Participants are guided on safe internet practices and encouraged to report incidents promptly via the national cybercrime helpline number 1930.

Children attending school seminars are also being taught about personal safety concepts and how to seek police assistance if they encounter online abuse. Constable Binal Jagdishchandra of the Gujarat Police She-Team said the sessions aim to bridge the gap between children and law enforcement. 'We visit schools and conduct seminars where we educate children about good touch and bad touch. We also try to remove the fear of the police from children's minds and make them understand that the police are their friends. If they face any kind of problem, they can approach the police,' she said.

What Officials Said

Women Cell and CID Crime ADGP Ajay Kumar Chaudhary stated that the campaign is built on five pillars: community participation, technology-based monitoring, outreach to victims, cyber awareness, and swift legal action. The initiative, he said, is designed to prevent cybercrime before it occurs rather than respond after the fact.

Voices from the Ground

Students attending the programmes described the sessions as practically useful. Hina Makwana, a student from Gandhinagar, said the programme covered cyber security, the Abhayam helpline, and the women's helpline. Another student, Kinjal Parmar, noted that the session explained the two broad categories of cybercrime — financial fraud carried out through OTPs and web links, and social media-based offences — along with guidance on avoiding both. Police said the campaign has enabled direct engagement with large numbers of citizens, equipping families and educators with knowledge of online risks and the mechanisms available to seek help.

Broader Context

This initiative comes amid a nationwide uptick in cybercrime targeting women and minors. The Ministry of Home Affairs has repeatedly flagged sextortion and deepfake-enabled harassment as among the fastest-growing categories of digital offences in India. Gujarat Police's structured, district-wide rollout distinguishes this campaign from one-off awareness events, signalling a more sustained institutional push. How the outreach translates into actual complaint filings and prosecutions will be the real measure of its impact.