US-based organisation received tip-offs about child pornography in Kashmir: Police

Srinagar: Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar on Saturday claimed to have received a number of reports from National Center For Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), a US-based private non-profit organization, against the individuals residing in Kashmir valley who have published, transmitted, circulated child pornography on various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

“NCMEC receives tip-offs through citizens, service providers and uses software to track child pornography content uploading/sharing online that is then shared with law enforcement agencies in the form of ‘Tipline Reports’, a statement issued by the Police said.

“On receipt of the said reports, a case FIR No. 21/2020 under relevant sections of law was registered in Cyber Police Station Kashmir and investigation set into motion,” the statement reads.

“During the course of the investigation, it came to fore that a good number of paedophiles from Kashmir Valley are involved in either transmission or uploading of child pornography contents on social media platforms.

The statement further reads, “arrests of these paedophiles are expected in coming days. General Public is advised to restrain from such activities. Anyone found involved in such activities will be dealt [with] strictly under law.

“Pertinent to mention here that uploading/sharing of child pornography on social media platforms is prohibited/banned by law of the land.

“Moreover, Cyber Police Station, Kashmir Zone, Srinagar has produced charge sheet in two case FIRs in District Court Srinagar on 20th & 21st of October 2020 against two accused persons. One hailing from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was booked for outraging the modesty of a woman through electronic mode. The 2nd charge sheet was produced against an accused person hailing from Srinagar City who had duped/cheated a lady from Srinagar district of lakhs of rupees,” the statement added. KNS