Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate police on Saturday started investigation into the hacking of the official website of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).
“We have received a complaint from the OUAT authorities regarding the hacking of their official website. We are investigating the matter. We have to check whether it is a mischievous act by somebody or a real case of hacking,” Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said.
When asked if the cyber cell of Odisha Police will probe the matter, Bhoi said, “The investigation is in the initial stage and a team of the cyber cell is working on it. If needed, we will seek the help of experts.”
The matter came to light on Friday evening after the hacker, identifying himself as ‘Don’, posted obscene messages on the website.
Though the authorities were apprised about the matter yesterday itself, a police complaint was filed at the Khandagiri police station on Saturday.
When contacted, OUAT Dean Santosh Kumar Rout said, “The website was working properly till 6 pm yesterday. After being informed about the hacking, the VC asked us to remove the website from the server. Today we have lodged a complaint.”
University Registrar RK Dash said, “Besides registering a complaint with the concerned police station, we have also sent an FIR copy to the Crime Branch. This is the first time we are facing such an issue. We don’t know what is the motive of the hacker.”
It’s worthwhile to mention here that the website of the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Ganjam district was hacked on December 29 last year. But the matter came to fore only on January 3.
Police said one Abbas Abraham, an international criminal, hacked the website from California in the US.