UP considering separate cyber crime law for state

LUCKNOW: To deal with rising cases of cyber crime, the Uttar Pradesh government is considering a separate cyber crime law at the state level.

"The government has directed the state Home department to make a cyber crime law at the state level to deal with it. It will be passed unanimously after taking views of all members", Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohd Azam Khan said.

He was replying to a question raised by BSP member Dharmpal Singh in the state assembly during question hour.

Khan noted that "foul and indecent" language was being used on social networking sites but nothing much could be done for lack of a stern law to deal with it.

He said that state government's police department has developed a software to keep an eye on such practice and by putting a particular word it gives details of posts on the issue.

Khan said he had got a person arrested for making such remarks but everyone attacked him for it.

"He was neither teenager nor school kid, but as I was involved everyone attacked me. After this SC gave an arrangement making arrests in such cases difficult", he said.

Khan was talking about the arrest of a 19-year-old student of a Bareilly school, who was booked under the controversial Section 66A of the IT Act by the Rampur Police last year.

The arrests were made on a complaint filed by Azam Khan's aide Fasahat Ali Khan, who alleged that the post was "controversial and inflammatory".

Khan in his reply also elaborated attempts of the state government to deal with cyber crime and constitution of cyber-police stations.

During discussion, BSP member Indrajeet Saroj also took up the issue of his fake Facebook account, through which he was allegedly "abused" and directed the matter be looked into.