Telangana cyber police arrest 15 in child exploitation crackdown

In a major crackdown, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau arrested 15 repeat offenders for circulating explicit content involving minors. Acting on Cyber Tipline complaints, officials registered 34 FIRs and are now tracing victims, networks, and the origins of the content

Hyderabad: In a major crackdown on online sexual exploitation of children, the Child Protection Unit (CPU) of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) conducted a state-wide special operation, resulting in the arrest of 15 persons.

TGCSB Director Shikha Goel said the operation targeted repeat offenders involved in uploading, storing, and circulating nude and sexually explicit videos of minors. A total of 15 individuals, all identified as habitual offenders, were arrested based on 57 Cyber Tipline complaints.

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Following the operation, 34 FIRs were registered under various Sections of the Information Technology Act and the POCSO Act. The suspects were arrested in a coordinated effort across Hyderabad, Yadagirigutta, Karimnagar, Warangal, Jagtial, and Jagadgirigutta.

“Most of the Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) appears to involve foreign individuals, with victims between 6 to 14 years of age. Ninety per cent of the content pertains to girls. All arrested accused have been sent to judicial remand,” said Shikha Goel.

An investigation is underway to identify the victims, trace the origin of the content, establish the exact role of each individual, and dismantle the criminal networks involved in creating, distributing, selling, and purchasing CSEAM.

The CPU is actively involved in monitoring and responding to the digital circulation of CSEAM content. TGCSB serves as the nodal agency for handling complaints related to Cyber Tipline reports, Child Pornography, and Rape/Gang Rape (CPRGR) cases, received through the NCRP portal and Case Monitoring Tools (CMT) of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Shikha Goel explained.

The unit also monitors such activities on social media platforms and conducts cyber patrolling on the dark and deep web.

Citizens have been urged to report any suspicious online activity involving children at www.cybercrime.gov.in or by dialling 1930.