Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Police has taken over the investigation into nearly 6,000 cases related to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) identified over the past four to six months after receiving cyber intelligence from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The State Cyber Crime Cell has launched a statewide probe, and officials said legal action will be initiated against individuals whose digital accounts are found to have uploaded, shared, or stored CSAM. Cases will be registered under the Information Technology Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In a first for Punjab, the State Cyber Cell has also started dark web patrolling to detect and monitor the circulation of illegal child exploitation content beyond conventional internet platforms.
According to officials, cyber alerts are generated through international intelligence-sharing mechanisms. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) analyses reports received from digital platforms and forwards verified information to India's Ministry of Home Affairs via the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) network. The MHA then directs state cyber units to investigate and take action.
The investigation includes securing digital evidence, forensic examination of electronic devices, identifying suspects, and prosecuting offenders under applicable laws. Authorities said strict legal action will be taken against anyone found involved in the creation, possession, or distribution of CSAM.
