from Lenny Barretto
Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
Panaji, Sep 16: With cyber-cafes becoming an unorganized sector in the state, police have decided to clamp down on these spaces which might provide lacunae for the terrorists to operate in the state.
"It has also come to our notice that certain criminal anti-social elements or terrorists are using these facilities to mislead the security investigation agencies,’’ Goa government press release on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi festival said.
The Goa police have taken up cudgels to ensure that the festival, which is a huge crowd-puller in the state and is celebrated on large scale, is held peacefully.
For this, the police have asked cyber-cafes to keep a record of the visitors.
"These anti social elements may create panic to public, endanger the security of VVIPs and Government Institutions and help in the terrorist activities, thereby, directly affecting the security of the state.
Police are worried because cyber cafes are turning into an unorganized sector.
"It has been reported by the superintendent of Police that a large number of commercial places or shops have come up in the jurisdiction which are popularly known as cyber cafes and large number of people visit them to use facilities in such places including e-mail facilities,’’ the press release specifies.
The state government has invoked section 144 of code of criminal procedure, 1973 Prohibiting the use of Cyber Café by any unknown person and whose identity has not been established by the owner of the café.
The cafes have been asked to maintain a register for the identity of the visitors or users and make an entry of the number and identity proof.
"The visitor should also sign in the register kept for this purpose; The identity of the visitor or user shall be established through identity card, voter card, ration card, driving licence, passport and photo credit card (any one of them), record should be preserved for at least six months,’’ the government press circular mentions.
The cyber-cafes have been asked to inform police, if any activity of the visitor is of a suspicious nature.