Hyderabad police to act firmly against digital harassment, cyberstalking: Sajjanar
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar on Sunday said harassment of women, especially digital blackmail and cyberstalking, would be dealt with firmly and without compromise.
“No offender should assume anonymity or technology will shield them from the law. We will pursue every complaint with seriousness and ensure strict legal action,” Sajjanar said.
He said the SHE Teams of Hyderabad police resolved more than 1,100 complaints and apprehended 3,826 individuals during 2025. Using undercover surveillance, decoy operations and technical expertise, the specialised wing caught offenders red-handed for various forms of harassment.
Reiterating that women’s safety was a non-negotiable priority, Sajjanar urged victims not to suffer in silence due to fear of stigma or exposure. “Your identity and dignity will be protected. Confidentiality is our responsibility, and the police will stand with every woman who approaches us,” he said, assuring swift and victim-centric handling of complaints.
An analysis of cases registered during the year showed a worrying rise in cyber-related offences. Blackmail emerged as the most common complaint, with 366 victims seeking help.
Police said offenders typically befriended women on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, gained their trust, and later misused recorded video calls or private photographs to extort money or sexual favours. In several cases, former partners allegedly used old images to threaten victims, including attempts to disrupt future marriages or personal lives.
The SHE Teams also recorded a rise in what police described as “psychological voyeurism”, where offenders exploit anonymity on digital platforms to harass women. During the year, the teams resolved 121 cases of midnight harassment through internet calls and 82 cases involving fake profiles and circulation of obscene content on WhatsApp.
At least 50 women reported severe mental distress due to repeated abusive calls from untraceable numbers, which were later identified through forensic analysis. Police also handled 98 cases of breach of promise to marry, where men allegedly exploited women emotionally, physically or financially under the pretext of marriage before abandoning them.
Psychological counselling was provided to victims, and criminal proceedings were initiated against the accused.
Apart from complaint-based action, the SHE Teams maintained a strong preventive presence. Fifteen plain-clothes teams conducted surveillance and decoy operations at bus stations, colleges and other crowded public places. Of those apprehended, most were counselled along with their family members, while serious cases led to FIRs, arrests and judicial custody.
