As millions of devotees are expected to visit Puri for the 16 July Rath Yatra, the Odisha Crime Branch’s CID and Puri Police have launched a special cyber safety campaign to protect pilgrims from online fraud and cybercrime during the annual festival.
Photo: ANI/Representative
As millions of devotees are expected to visit Puri for the 16 July Rath Yatra, the Odisha Crime Branch’s CID and Puri Police have launched a special cyber safety campaign to protect pilgrims from online fraud and cybercrime during the annual festival.
The campaign was inaugurated on July 11 with the flagging off of a Cyber Sathi Vehicle from the Town Police Station by Inspector General of Police (CID-CB) Dr. Sarthak Sarangi and Puri SP Pratik Singh.
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As part of the initiative, cyber safety teams have been conducting awareness programmes across the pilgrim town, educating tourists, hotel owners and local residents about emerging cyber threats, particularly fake hotel booking scams.
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The police said the team has so far visited seven prominent hotels, assessed their websites for security vulnerabilities and issued advisories to strengthen cyber safeguards. More than 100 tourists and pilgrims have also been sensitised about online fraud through direct interactions and the distribution of cyber safety pamphlets.
The campaign has also led to the removal of nine fake hotel booking webpages and the blocking of 16 misleading URLs that were spreading false information on Rath Yatra or seeking donations for prasad distribution through unverified appeals.
Odisha Police has urged devotees to book accommodation only through authentic sources and remain alert against cyber fraud during the festival.
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