Heavy rains hamper police operations, allowing cyber criminals to evade arrest in North India

The ongoing heavy rain and flooding in northern India have created favorable conditions for cyber criminals, enabling them to evade arrest as the police are compelled to postpone raids and operations due to the inclement weather.

Bidhannnagar city police personnel told TOI that four separate investigative teams were prepared to begin excursions to Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh.


These plans came crashing down when the torrential downpour hit these regions over the past few weeks.

Rainfall in India's northern regions has been devastating, with the tumultuous Yamuna River adding to the chaos.

So far, 116 deaths related to the rains have been reported, with Himachal Pradesh alone accounting for over 80 deaths, while additional fatalities reported in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan.

13 deaths have been reported in Uttar Pradesh, the highest in the last 24 hours

In addition to this, the Yamuna River is at its highest level since 1978, having risen past the danger mark over the past two days. As a result, low-lying areas have been submerged, leading to the evacuation of residents in neighborhoods around ISBT, Okhla, Mayur Vihar, Bhajanpura, and Sarai Kale Khan.

"The teams were formed, action plans were drawn up and all additional requisitions were in place. However, such has been the weather condition in north India over the past one week that it is impossible to carry out any operation of this stature at this moment. Hence, we have held back the teams but will send them, the moment the weather improves," said an officer.

Nevertheless, the cyber cell and intelligence bureau are closely monitoring the movements of the criminals in other states despite the operational setbacks caused by the weather.

Over the past year, the cybercrime department of Bidhannagar City Police has been actively involved in busting fake call centers, solving cybercrime cases, and traveling to distant states to apprehend criminals.

Bidhannagar's cops have collaborated with law enforcement across the country in an attempt to shut down criminial activity in various locations, succeeding in bringing the perpetrators back to their cities.

"Over the last few months, we have arrested at least eight criminals from Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. This time as well, multiple teams were set to leave but couldn't," said another officer.