Bihar’s New Push for Cyber Safety Reaches the Grassroots in Bhagalpur
Students sensitised on cybercrime, online fraud and responsible digital behaviour under ‘Cyber Secure Bihar’ campaign
Bhagalpur: With smartphones, UPI, online banking and social media becoming an integral part of everyday life, the need for greater awareness about cybercrime and responsible digital behaviour is growing rapidly. Taking this message to the grassroots, a Cyber Awareness Programme was organised at an Elementary School in Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, under the ‘Cyber Secure Bihar’ campaign.
The initiative focuses on taking cyber-safety awareness beyond social media and digital platforms and into schools, families and local communities, with students, young people, parents, senior citizens and everyday digital users among its key audiences.
The programme was attended by City SP, Bhagalpur; Cyber DSP Prerna Singh; Abhinav Das, Campaign Lead, Cyber Secure Bihar; Rajesh Kumar Shukla, Secretary, Pandit Hari Narayan Shukla Foundation; Professor Rakesh; journalist and columnist Avikal Narayan Shukla; Ward Councillor Sarita Devi, along with officers from Sultanganj Police Station and Cyber Police Station, Bhagalpur.
Addressing the students, the City SP, Bhagalpur explained various aspects of cyber safety and cautioned them against suspicious links, calls and messages. Students were advised to verify information before clicking on links or sharing personal details online.
Abhinav Das, Campaign Lead, Cyber Secure Bihar, spoke about child cyber safety, social-media fraud, protection of personal information and digital footprints. He emphasised that even a small act of carelessness online can sometimes lead to serious consequences and encouraged students to develop responsible digital habits.
Cyber DSP Prerna Singh sensitised students about cyberbullying, digital arrest scams, misuse of private photographs and other forms of online abuse. She advised students not to panic or remain silent in such situations and to immediately approach parents, teachers or the police.
The campaign is addressing a wide range of emerging threats, including OTP and KYC fraud, UPI and QR-code scams, WhatsApp impersonation, fake loan and investment schemes, remote-access applications, social-media fraud and AI-based voice-cloning scams.
The programme also adopted a creative and interactive approach. Students organised a painting exhibition on cyber safety and presented a nukkad natak (street play) highlighting online fraud and ways to stay safe in the digital environment. NCC cadets from Murarka College also participated actively.
During the programme, City SP Bhagalpur, Abhinav Das and Cyber DSP Prerna Singh were felicitated with the ‘Pandit Hari Narayan Samman’ for their contribution towards cyber-safety awareness.
A key focus of the campaign is to encourage students to become “Cyber Champions” who can carry awareness messages from classrooms to their homes and communities.
The campaign also stresses immediate reporting of cyber fraud. Citizens facing financial cyber fraud are advised to call 1930 immediately, inform their bank or financial institution, preserve relevant evidence and register a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
As Bihar’s digital ecosystem continues to expand, ‘Cyber Secure Bihar’ aims to ensure that digital growth is accompanied by digital responsibility, with awareness serving as the first line of defence against cybercrime.
