In a bid to tackle the growing menace of crime in cyber space, Madhya Pradesh Police has decided to constitute a dedicated Cyber Police Force by enrolling over 100 personnel in the first phase.

"We have sent a proposal to recruit over 700 police personnel for the newly-created Cyber Crime Cell of Madhya Pradesh and the police headquarter has initially given its nod to recruit 106 dedicated cyber police force in the state," Inspector General (IG), Rajendra Mishra told PTI.

"We will recruit plus-2 pass out candidates with basic knowledge of computers and then train them in the advanced computer applications by offering them diplomas, BCA and MCA degrees," he said.

Those who successfully complete the diploma course will be inducted between the ranks of Constable to Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), BCA pass outs between Sub-Inspectors to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and those with MCA degrees as Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), the IG said.

They will not only be trained in handling hardware and software, but also in cyber laws to counter the challenge posed by the new generation of criminals who use sophisticated electronic gadgets to commit crimes of diverse nature,he said.

Mishra said the recently-created Cell has been discharging its duties with a skeleton staff of just 20 personnel drawn from different wings of the police. However, it has been able to solve some major cyber crimes including fraud of Rs 17 lakh committed by a Nigerian national.

"A total of 15 foreign nationals who indulged in major cyber crimes in the state were arrested by the Cell. The arrested persons belong to Nigeria, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Swajiland, Kenya, Australia and UK," the IG said.

The department has also solved 40 per cent of mobile-theft cases in the state.

To a question on whether the advent of technology has helped in improving crime detection rate, Mishra said though the detection rate has certainly increased, the number of crimes, especially in cyber space, has also increased due to better technology being available.

Though the Cell received only 15 complaints about cyber crimes in 2008, the number of such complaints has increased manifold in just a year with 214 people filing complaints in 2009, he said.

In 2010, so far nearly 500 complaints have been received, which shows that the crimes being committed in cyber space are increasing day by day, the IG said.

He also said that Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country with a separate Cyber Cell directly reporting to the Director General of Police (DGP), while in other states such departments are part of CID or other investigative branches.

The Headquarters of the Cyber Cell is being constructed in Bhopal at an estimated cost of Rs four crore, out of which Rs 2.1 crore will be spent on construction of its modern building while the remaining amount will be spent on procuring hardware and software.