Dimapur Police conducts awareness programme on cyberbullying

DIMAPUR — Vikheka Assumi, the officer in charge of Sub Urban Police Station, Dimapur, said during an awareness programme that education is not a foolproof shield against the emotional and psychological impacts of cyberbullying and noted that educated individuals, too, can fall prey to cyberbullying.

Speaking at an awareness campaign on cybercrime at Livingstone Foundation International (LFI), conducted by Dimapur Police in partnership with Livingstone Foundation Society on November 18, he underscored the significance of integrating human rights into the law and order framework.

He argued that this integration is crucial for establishing a legal system that not only preserves order but also respects the dignity and rights of individuals.

A press release from Livingstone Foundation International (LFI) stated that the awareness programme was an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs to educate citizens, particularly students, about cybercrime, the advantages and disadvantages of the internet, and its inevitability.

The resource person, unarmed branch sub inspector (UBSI) Asano Newmai from the office of the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, emphasised the influence of social media influencers and their potential to contribute negatively.

Newmai discussed how their popularity can promote unrealistic standards and a culture of comparison, potentially leading to low self-esteem, heightened materialism, and the dissemination of false information.

Claiming that excessive use of cell phones and social networking sites can lead to social isolation, privacy concerns, addiction, material comparison, and mental health problems, Newmai noted that cyberbullying necessitates a multifaceted approach that includes education, awareness, effective legal provisions, and collaboration among online platforms, authorities, and communities.

The hour-long programme, which was chaired by UBSI Temkhah Konyak, concluded with a question-and-answer session in which the resource person interacted with the students about various aspects of cybercrime.

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