Assam Notifies State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (S4C) Under CID to Combat Digital Frauds

Guwahati, July 23, 2026 - In a major move to strengthen its fight against rising cybercrime, the Government of Assam has officially notified the establishment of the State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (S4C).

As per Notification No. eCF No. 174573/391 dated the 22nd July, 2026, issued by Government, the S4C will function as the State-level mechanism for coordinated cybercrime prevention, investigation support, cyber security and cyber fraud response in Assam.

The centre will function under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Assam, and serve as the State Nodal Agency for cybercrime prevention, detection, investigation support, prosecution support, cyber fraud mitigation, cyber threat coordination and cyber security incident response.

How S4C will function

The notification states that the Senior Most Police Officer / Head of CID, Assam, shall be the Head of the S4C and exercise overall supervision and control. The functioning of the National Cyber Forensic Laboratory at the Lachit Borphukan Police Academy, Dergaon, will also be under the overall supervision of the Head of the S4C.

Objectives of the centre:

• To ensure effective coordination amongst stakeholder agencies and platforms; analysis and response to cybercrime across the state
• To monitor investigation of cybercrime cases and complaints received through online platforms (NCRP/1930) as well as offline complaints
• To provide technical, analytical and operational support including cyber threat analysis, hotspot mapping and intelligence-based preventive measures
• To enhance prevention through awareness, training and capacity building
• To facilitate freezing, reversal and restoration of defrauded money to victims, wherever legally permissible
• To provide victim assistance and specialised support for cybercrimes against women and children
• To act as nodal interface with national and international cybercrime coordination mechanisms
• To facilitate coordination with banks, financial institutions, ISPs, intermediaries and government departments
• To strengthen cyber security framework for Government digital infrastructure

The S4C will have two functional wings, each headed by an officer not below the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police:

Wing 1 - Cyber Crime Wing: Cyber Investigations Division; State Digital Investigation Support Centre (S-DISC); State Cyber Crime Training Centre; and State Cyber Outreach, Research and Innovation Unit.

Wing 2 - Cyber Security (Operations) Wing: Administration Division; Cyber Threat and Social Media Monitoring & Enforcement Division; Emergency Response Division including National Cybercrime Helpline 1930, State Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre and Proactive Mitigation System for Online Crimes against Women and Children; and Cyber Security Division.

The State Cyber Crime Police Station, CID Cyber Police Station, District Cyber Police Stations and Cyber Desks will function in coordination with the S4C. While investigation and registration of cases will continue as per law, S4C will provide coordination, technical assistance, digital forensic support and operational guidance.

The centre will submit monthly operational and analytical reports to the DGP, Assam, and its functioning will be reviewed periodically by the Government and reports furnished to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). The notification will come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Background: Why S4C Was Needed

1. Supreme Court's intervention on 'digital arrest' scams: The notification has been issued in compliance with the Order dated 01-12-2025 of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India passed in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 03 of 2025.

The case regarding Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents’ was registered following a letter dated September 21, 2025, sent by Shashi Sachdeva and Harish Chand Sachdeva. A 73-year-old woman from Haryana's Ambala had claimed that scammers confined her in a so-called 'digital arrest' and extorted over Rs 1 crore from her using forged Supreme Court orders.

The Supreme Court observed that the forgery of judicial documents and the misuse of the court's name, seal, and authority, is a matter of grave concern and that such acts constitute a direct assault on the dignity of the institution. On December 1, 2025, the Court directed a pan-India coordinated response.

Pursuant to this, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued Letter No. 22003/05/2026-C.C. dated 9th June, 2026, directing states to set up state-level coordination centres on the lines of I4C.

2. National framework - I4C: The Ministry of Home Affairs established Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as a scheme in the year 2018 to evolve a framework and ecosystem for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrime. I4C was inaugurated in January 2020 and set up as an Attached Office of MHA with effect from 1st July, 2024.

I4C operates the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), the 1930 helpline, and platforms like Samanvaya and Pratibimb for data sharing and mapping of criminals.

3. Assam's growing cybercrime challenge: Cybercrime has emerged as one of Assam's fastest-growing security challenges, with over 18,315 people arrested in the State since 2014 for a wide range of digital offences, ranging from ATM fraud and KYC scams to fake IDs and online financial frauds.

Just last month, Assam rolled out the e-Zero FIR initiative on June 23, under which cyber fraud complaints registered through NCRP or helpline 1930 will be automatically converted into FIRs. Financial frauds above Rs 10 lakh are automatically converted into Zero FIRs for immediate action.

The need was highlighted by recent cases in the state. Assam Police's CID Cyber Police arrested a Guwahati-based man, Amit Kumar Beria of Dispur, for allegedly siphoning off approximately Rs 3.85 crore through a digital arrest scam targeting victims in Telangana, Maharashtra and Odisha.

Last month, the CBI under Operation Chakra-VI conducted coordinated searches across 16 states against digital arrest networks, including extensive searches in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts of Assam.

With the notification of S4C, Assam Police aims to reduce the delay between complaint and freezing of funds, improve victim assistance, and bring all district cyber cells under a unified threat intelligence and forensic support system.