Jamtara Cybercrime Hub Reimagined: Abandoned Police Station Becomes Library for Youth

In a district better known for cybercrime than classrooms, an abandoned police station in Jamtara’s Karmatar area has found a new purpose — as a library-cum-coaching centre for local youth.

Inaugurated in April 2024, the facility is equipped with Wi-Fi, a projector and basic learning infrastructure. The transformation is particularly symbolic in Karmatar, a place steeped in history. It was here that legendary social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar spent a significant part of his life, working tirelessly for education and social reform. Over time, however, the area’s identity shifted, earning an unfortunate reputation as a cybercrime hotspot in the district.

The idea behind reclaiming the space was simple yet deliberate. Former Jamtara superintendent of police Dr Ehtesham Waquarib, who spearheaded the initiative, said the building had been lying unused for nearly a year after the police station was relocated to a new premises. “The aim was to give children who want to do well in life a real chance. While many youths here are drawn into cybercrime, there are also many who want to study and move ahead. This centre is for them,” he said.

The initiative reflects a broader push across Jharkhand to revive public libraries as community learning spaces. In Jan this year, the East Singhbhum district administration launched a book donation drive for the Dinshaw Memorial Library, established in 1939.

A similar effort is underway in Deoghar, where the district administration, in partnership with a public sector bank, recently upgraded a public library into a digital facility—signalling a quiet but determined attempt to bring reading spaces back to the heart of public life.