Punjab: The Cyber Crime Division of Punjab Police has arrested one person and identified 54 suspects involved in viewing, transmitting and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) using various online platforms, DGP Gaurav Yadav said here today. The development comes soon after a verdict passed by the Supreme Court which clarified that viewing, possession and non-reporting of CSAM content is punishable under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The accused has been identified as Vijaypal, a resident of Ramsara in Fazilka. Police teams have also seized electronic devices with proper hash value recorded on them. An FIR has been registered in this regard under Section 67-B of the Information Technology (IT) Act at the Cyber Police Station.
Yadav said that following cyber tip lines regarding transmission of CSAM content received from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the state Cyber Crime Division in coordination with the CP/SSP launched a special drive to nab the persons involved in viewing and distributing such content. He informed that in the first phase of the operation, 54 suspects have been identified across Punjab while one person who was selling and sharing CSAM using social media has been arrested from Fazilka. During the operation, police teams have seized 39 devices from the suspects and these are being sent for forensic examination, the DGP informed. He informed that investigation is underway to identify and nab other criminals involved in such heinous crimes. Sharing more details, ADGP Cyber Crime V. Neerja informed that the operation is still on and more arrests are expected in the coming days.
