Punjab: Online Child Pornography Ring Busted, One Held; 54 Suspects Identidied

In a significant operation, the Cybercrime Division of the Punjab Police has arrested one individual and identified 54 suspects linked to the viewing, transmission, and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across various online platforms.

“The arrested accused is a resident of Ramsra, #Fazilka. Police teams have seized electronic devices following standard procedures, with proper hash values recorded. An FIR has been registered under Section 67B of the IT Act at the Cyber Police Station,” stated Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, on Thursday.

During the operation, 39 devices were confiscated from different suspects and sent for forensic analysis. The investigation is ongoing to identify and dismantle the criminal network. This development follows a Supreme Court judgment clarifying that viewing, possessing, and failing to report CSAM content is punishable under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

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CSAM refers to any content that depicts or exploits minors in a sexual manner, including photos, videos, or other media. It is illegal to produce, distribute, or possess such material, which causes lasting harm to victims and is considered a severe form of child exploitation due to its long-term effects.

The arrested individual has been identified as Vijaypal, a resident of Ramsra in Fazilka. Police teams have also seized electronic devices as per standard procedures, with proper hash values recorded. An FIR has been registered under Section 67B of the Information Technology (IT) Act at the Cyber Police Station in this regard.

DGP Gaurav Yadav explained that, following Cyber Tipline reports regarding the transmission of CSAM content received from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the State Cyber Crime Division, in coordination with CPs/SSPs, launched a special operation to apprehend those involved in viewing, transmitting, and distributing such content.

He noted that in the first phase of the operation, 54 suspects have been identified across Punjab, and one person, found selling and sharing CSAM via Instagram and Telegram, has been arrested in Fazilka.

The DGP added that police teams seized 39 devices from various suspects during the operation, which are being sent for forensic analysis. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend more offenders involved in these heinous crimes.

ADGP Cybercrime V. Neeraja shared additional details, stating that the operation, meticulously coordinated by SP Cybercrime Jashandeep Gill, is part of Punjab’s efforts to combat online child abuse. The operation is still underway, and more arrests are anticipated in the coming days.

She emphasized that under current law, viewing, distributing, or storing CSAM is a criminal offense under Section 67(B) of the IT Act, 2000, in conjunction with Section 15 of the POCSO Act, and is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh.

Additionally, the Punjab Police have established Cyber Crime Police Stations in all 28 districts and Commissionerates, equipped with Cyber Investigation & Technical Support Units (CI & TSUs) to investigate cybercrimes. For further assistance or to report CSAM, individuals can reach out to the State Cyber Crime Division or their local District Cyber Crime Police Station.

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