Cyber cafes come under scanner in Mohali

Taking note of frequent use of facilities at cyber cafes by anti-social elements, criminals and terrorists to mislead the security agencies and create panic among the public, the DM has asked the cafeacute; owners to follow the guidelines listed in the ex-parte order issued under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.

The prohibitory order asked the cyber cafeacute; owners not to allow use by unknown persons without establishing identity of the visitors, maintain entry register for the visitors/users, entry by the visitor/user in own handwriting with full name, address, contact numbers with signatures in the register, establish identity of visitor/user through voter card/driving license/passport/credit card or any other authentic document, preserve activity server log in main server for at least 6 months, inform the police on suspicious nature of visitor/user and to maintain record of specific computer used by the visitor/user.

The prohibitions, which came into effect with immediate effect, will remain in force till January 20, 2009.