Justice Served: 15 Arrested in Telangana for Circulating Disturbing Child Sexual Abuse Material
Fifteen habitual offenders involved in the digital circulation of child sexual abuse material (CSEAM) were arrested by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) during a coordinated operation across multiple districts. The arrests, carried out by the bureau’s specialized Child Protection Unit (CPU) on June 18, 2025, targeted individuals suspected of uploading, storing, and distributing exploitative content involving minors.
Among those apprehended are 24-year-old Mir Zakir Mohiuddin Ali Khan and 23-year-old Syed Faheem Uddin, both from Charminar, as well as 30-year-old Prasad Kumar from Secunderabad. Additional arrests include individuals from a range of locations, such as Guramm Mahesh (age 23, Atmakur), Mohd Baseer Ahmed Quraishi (age 25, Mallepally), and others from Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Hanumakonda, and Jagtial. Notably, all 15 suspects are repeat offenders linked to at least 57 cyber tipline complaints, suggesting a systemic issue within the network of CSEAM circulation.
The operation resulted in 34 First Information Reports filed under the IT Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Seventeen of these cases were initiated by the TGCSB’s Cyber Crime Police Stations (CCPS). The content recovered predominantly featured foreign victims, aged between 6 and 14 years, with nearly 90% involving girls, indicating a troubling trend in the exploitation of minors.
TGCSB Director Shikha Goel announced that as part of the operation, the bureau had blocked nearly 200 websites linked to CSEAM material. “We employ multiple strategies to track such illegal activities, including tipline analysis, in-house social media monitoring, and dark web exploration,” Ms. Goel stated. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on identifying the victims, tracing the origins of the content, and determining whether the suspects were involved in its production. Initial findings suggest that the offenders may have either downloaded the content from open platforms or purchased it from the dark web.
The TGCSB is also looking to enforce accountability on social media companies. “Social media platforms must conduct due diligence and take down users who share such content,” Goel emphasized. She noted that action will be taken against platforms where the illicit content was traced, underscoring the need for stricter norms and timely responses from platform operators to combat the circulation of CSEAM.
Lastly, authorities reminded the public that even browsing such material is a punishable offense, affirming their commitment to tackling this serious issue head-on. As investigations continue, the TGCSB aims to enhance measures designed to protect vulnerable children from exploitation while holding accountable those who contribute to this grave societal problem.
This extensive operation sheds light on the crucial role that investigation and law enforcement play in combating child exploitation in the digital age, reinforcing the necessity for community vigilance and legal action against offenders.
Published – June 19, 2025, 03:47 PM IST
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/15-held-across-telangana-for-circulating-child-sexual-abuse-material/article69712706.ece
Category : Telangana
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Publish Date: 2025-06-19 15:47:00
