Cyber cafe owners slow to heed advice

NEW DELHI: With the threat of terror e-mails gathering significance after the serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, intelligence agencies have stepped up surveillance of cyber cafes in the Capital.
Last year, the origin of a terror e-mail circulated just after the serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh was traced to the Lakhsminagar area of east Delhi. It was alleged that the original owner of the car used in the Jaipur blasts was a resident of Dilshad Garden.However, even after clear signs that sleeper cells were active in the city, technological surveillance remains a major headache for the Delhi Police.
Right after the UP serial blasts last year, Delhi Police had advised all cyber cafe owners to install CCTV cameras. However, if senior officials are to be believed, most cafes have decided to overlook this bit of "advice."
However, a senior police officer posted in the East district said the advice was ���unrealistic���. "Most of the clients of the smaller cafes are students who often bunk classes to drop in. They resist any form of identification. Hence, wherever the CCTVs have been installed in the last six months, owners have complained of losses to the tune of 20 to 30%," he said.
A ground check by Times City threw up some shocking details. While one cannot easily avoid verification, the loopholes are many. At one cyber cafe in Lakshminagar, a pseudonym and a non-existent mobile number sufficed as identification. In another cafe in Rajendra Nagar, Times City was allowed to use the services despite not having any photo ID proof. The only thing asked for was Rs 10 for using the services for an hour and a cursory glance at a college library card.
However a flicker of hope was provided by some alert cafe owners in Kalkaji. "First time users in our cafe have to show photo ID proof which is scanned and kept in our records. A card is then issued in the name of the user and the next time he visits our cafe, we check the identity number and only then allow them to use our services", said Kamesh Singh, whose shop is located near the Deshabhandu College.
According to the Delhi Police order, cyber cafe owners have to follow a few rules which will help identify each user.
First, they are to prohibit the use of the cyber cafe by unknown persons. All owners have to compulsorily maintain a register to record the identity and address of the user. Additionally, this entry in the register has to be in the handwriting of the user and the entry should necessarily mention the name, address, telephone number and identity proof.
Talking about the various other provisions in the order, a senior police officer added: "What constitutes identity proof too has been rationalised. Only voter ID card, ration card, driving licence, passport and photo credit card or a genuine ID card issued by a relevant organisation will serve the purpose."