MP Police organises Cyber Awareness Run 2025:Event held to mark end of National Cyber Awareness month; CM Yadav flags off marathon

Towards the end of the National Cyber Awareness Month, the Madhya Pradesh Police organised a ‘Cyber Awareness Run 2025’ in the state capital on Wednesday, officials said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Yadav flagged off the run from Bhopal’s Platinum Plaza, Atal Path, which concluded at the TT Nagar Stadium after passing through Apex Bank Square. Senior police officials remain in attendance The event witnessed the participation of Madhya Pradesh’s Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana, MLA Bhagwandas Sabnani, senior police officers including ADG Adarsh Katiyar, Pankaj Srivastava, Rakesh Gupta, A. Sai Manohar, officials from various departments, sportspersons, media representatives, and hundreds of citizens. Participants collectively pledged to remain vigilant under the message, “Stay Safe, Stay Alert, Stay Protected from Cybercrime.” CM calls for responsible digital use On the occasion, CM Yadav urged citizens to act responsibly while using digital platforms. He said that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has become a global example in technology adoption and innovation. Highlighting India’s success in digital payments and vaccination drives during the COVID-19 pandemic, CM Yadav said, “India’s digital payment system has set an example for the world.” However, he cautioned that technological progress also brings new challenges. He noted that cyber-crime is among the most pressing concerns of modern times, with fraudsters impersonating officials or bank representatives to cheat citizens. He advised people to remain cautious, saying, “Earlier, people protected their pockets in crowded places, but now, it’s essential to safeguard your phone and digital data.” ‘An aware citizen is the strongest defence’: DGP Makwana Addressing the gathering, DGP Kailash Makwana underscored that in today’s digital era, awareness is the most powerful shield against cyber threats. He said cyber-crime is growing faster than any other form of crime worldwide, including online frauds, identity theft, fake profiles, and phishing scams. He thereafter informed that the state police regularly conduct awareness drives in schools, colleges, panchayats, and cities to educate people about safe digital practices. He revealed that more than 1.5 crore citizens and students have been sensitised under cyber safety campaigns such as the ‘Safe Click Cyber Awareness Drive’, launched in February 2025. He concluded by saying, “If we remain alert and cautious, no criminal can deceive us. Let this run be a pledge. I will stay aware, will make others aware, and will protect my society from cybercrime.”