The Chennai police are monitoring at least three gangs that had created, stored and circulated videos of child sexual abuse online, according to a report in The Hindu.
A few days ago, a team of ethical hacking volunteers of the cyber cell of the police, in collaboration with a private agency, found that at least 1,500 persons across the state had downloaded such videos of child sexual abuse over a week in November. The team also traced the IP addresses which were involved in the activity. The Additional DGP (Crime) M Ravi had stated that the department was looking at cracking down on those who had downloaded and shared this material over social media like WhatsApp.
According to the report in The Hindu, M Ravi referred to a viral audio clip in which a policeman is allegedly threatening a youth for watching porn on his phone and called it as fake. He also said that the police have detected three cases of child pornography and have forwarded the details to the concerned officers for action. The details of those involved in the creation, storing and distribution of videos showing sexual acts committed on children have also been forwarded to all the district police offices in Tamil Nadu for inquiry and investigation. M Ravi also rubbished reports of police surveillance on the mobile phone usage of people in the state.
According to the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act, forcing children into sexual acts, filming it and circulating it are punishable offences.
Responding to the rumour that the police is planning to initiate action against everyone who visited pornographic sites, M Ravi said that it was not possible to do so and that the radar is firmly on those who involve themselves in child pornography. Jayashree, the SP in-charge of Crime against Women and Children has been nominated as the nodal officer for coordinating with the district police offices to act against child sexual abuse material.