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Police in Haryana's Nuh district have placed 58 villages under surveillance as part of a special campaign to curb cybercrime and have issued legal notices to village heads, warning them against providing shelter or support to cybercriminals, officials said.

The action, taken on Tuesday under "Operation Clean", follows the identification of villages that have repeatedly surfaced in investigations related to online fraud, fake calls, digital arrest scams and OLX-linked cyber fraud cases.

As part of the initiative, police will intensify their crackdown on cybercriminals and work to dismantle the local networks that facilitate such illegal activities, officials added.

A senior police officer said the administration was compelled to take the step after concerns grew over the district's reputation. He noted that Nuh was increasingly being perceived as a hub of cybercrime, prompting authorities to enforce accountability at the village level.

 

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Sarpanches of the identified villages have been served notices and cautioned that legal action may be initiated against them if they are found aiding, sheltering or otherwise supporting individuals involved in cybercrime, police officials said.

Most of the villages placed under surveillance are located in the jurisdictions of the Punhana, Bichor and Ferozpur Jhirka police stations. According to police records, several individuals from these villages have already been arrested in connection with cyber fraud cases. Authorities also said complaints have emerged regarding local support networks that allegedly help cybercriminals evade law enforcement.

Police have appealed to residents to socially boycott those engaged in cybercrime and urged citizens to share any relevant information with the authorities.
A spokesperson for the Nuh police said special drives would be conducted in villages identified as safe havens for cybercriminals, with strict action to be taken against offenders, their associates and anyone found providing them protection or assistance.