CBI searches across India over online child sexual abuse material

The Central Bureau of Investigation today searched around 56 locations across India in an online child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) case. The searches were being conducted under the operation Meghchakra.

Reports said that the CBI would identify and apprehend individuals and gangs which were spreading child sexual material on online platforms. The investigation agency would also identify the persons who were involved in the blackmailing of the minors.

It said that the CBI would also identify the organisations and rackets involved in this matter.

The central government and the state governments were working hard to control child sexual abuse cases in the country. Yesterday, Uttar Pradesh’s assembly adopted a policy of zero tolerance toward crime against women and children. A Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2022 was passed by the assembly. It would deny anticipatory bail to accused who were involved in crimes against women and children.

According to the bill, in pursuance of a zero-tolerance policy towards crimes against women and children, to ensure prompt collection of evidence in sexual offences, to prevent such evidence from being annihilated, minimize the possibility of destruction of evidence and restrain the accused from causing fear and coercion to the victim /witnesses, it has been decided to amend the section 438 of Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.

Chief Minister Yogi Aadityanath said that the double-engine BJP government has done excellent work for women’s respect and empowerment. As a result of which there has been a massive reduction in crimes related to women in the last five and a half years. They were trying to improve it further by disseminating the schemes of the government related to women’s power on a wide scale.

However, social media users questioned Aadityanath’s statement on women’s safety. One Nazir Akaram wrote on Twitter that a minor girl was gang-raped by five youths in UP’s Moradabad. But, Yogi would say that UP was a crime-free state.