3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Mar 22, 2026 11:33 AM IST
Conceptualised as a “proactive digital shield to counter extortion, stalking and cyber harassment”, Haryana Police on Saturday launched ‘Abhedya’, a mobile-based system that prevents citizens from even coming into contact with threatening or abusive communication.
Addressing a press conference, Haryana DGP Ajay Singhal said the application monitors incoming WhatsApp calls and messages from unknown numbers and identifies whether the source is an international number — real or virtual — or a virtual Indian number used to mask identity. Once flagged, such communication is blocked before it reaches the user.
The application works by automatically rejecting suspicious calls, blocking numbers and removing messages, voice notes or notifications before they can be accessed by the user. The upgraded version extends this protection to regular incoming calls as well, including unknown international numbers, hidden or private numbers and suspicious domestic contacts, while allowing only verified contacts. Importantly, the system stores data of blocked calls at the back end, enabling police to analyse patterns and build intelligence for investigations.
Highlighting the growing sophistication of such crimes, the DGP revealed that even he had received a fraudulent call.
“I myself received a call from a +92 number. The caller claimed to be a policeman. I, though, avoided it.”
Haryana Police officers said such tactics — using foreign numbers, impersonating officials and relying on internet-based calling — are designed to create instant fear and force victims into compliance. While platforms such as Telegram and Signal are occasionally used, police clarified that most extortion-related communication is routed through WhatsApp, which remains a key focus of the system.
The application has already shown promising results during its trial phase. It was tested on around 25 users, all of whom reported satisfaction with its effectiveness and experienced immediate relief as threatening numbers were blocked instantly.
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“All 25 users in the trial phase were satisfied. Their numbers were blocked quickly, and they felt immediate relief,” the DGP said.
Haryana Police said overall crime has declined by 8 per cent in January and February this year compared to last year, while extortion calls have reduced by around 40 per cent. Earlier figures also showed a drop from 175 disturbing calls in February 2024 to 107 in February 2025.
The DGP reiterated that Haryana Police has carried out extensive action against organised crime, including arrests across the country and coordination with international agencies to track fugitives operating abroad. He added that even when calls are blocked through the app, their data will still be captured, helping build a database to trace offenders more effectively.
Singhal said earlier efforts to trace such criminals were hindered due to limited cooperation from global platforms, which cited jurisdictional and privacy constraints.
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The DGP said that when such attempts did not yield results, Haryana Police developed its own solution, making Abhedya a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country created by its in-house technical team.
The initiative is expected to bring relief to businessmen, contractors, doctors and others who have frequently been targeted by extortion threats.
“Now they can sleep peacefully,” the DGP said, adding, “Criminals must either leave crime or leave Haryana.”
