Police crack down on cyber cafes

After the arrest of Himayat Baig,who allegedly co-ordinated terror activities from a cyber cafe at Udgir,police have started closing down cyber cafes running illegally in Pune. Police have asked owners of some 100 cyber cafes to meet the requirements for getting the licence and give an undertaking they were following all security norms,including keeping a record of customers.

Pune Police Commissioner Meeran Borvankar said,“We have started to close cyber cafes running without authorisation. There are some 100 such cafes.” Some of the cyber cafe owners who got closure notices and even fined for running without licences say they were not at fault as they had submitted necessary documents to the police. “In 2008,I submitted all documents for which I got a receipt. Now,instead of the licence,police slapped a notice on September 16 to close down,” said Zoher Harnesswala,who runs Chatter Box cyber cafe in Camp.“We have asked them to comply with the norms,” said senior police inspector,Lashkar police station,Sushma Chauhan.

Deputy Commissioner of Police,headquarters,Rajesh Bonsde,said,“We have given information on our website about cafes without licences.” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anant D Shinde said,“Police stations have been asked to take action against unathorised cafe owners.”