Kochi: The state police with the help of Interpol and other agencies have traced the encrypted messaging groups and websites working in hidden networks of Darknet to crack down on child pornography.
The pornographic pictures and videos were showcased in the hidden sites linked with Darknet for sale to paedophiles and others to make money.
Meanwhile, ‘Operation P-Hunt,’ the ongoing cyber infiltration operation carried out by the Kerala police, continues with the arrest of 21 persons from different parts of the state last week.
According to sources, the traced websites and groups linked to Darknet contained the pictures of children from Kerala too.
“We suspect the pictures of children aged 5 or 6, mostly taken from the state’s villages, are being circulated in the groups and showcased on the websites as a business,” a source said.
According to ADGP Manoj Abraham, who is also the nodal officer of Kerala Police Cyber-dome, the suspects sell the pictures and videos in foreign countries through the hidden networks. “Paedophilia is a major offence in countries like China, Japan, Europe, and...
videos related to child sex are also banned there. Hence, there is a huge demand for such contents among the paedophiles and those who are addicted to thom. They buy or download them using bitcoins through this network,” Mr. Abraham said.
In ‘Operation P-Hunt,’ the Cyberdome used a special software provided by the Interpol to trace out the accused and the contents they share across the internet. As the contents are available in India through regular networks, these businesses are not going deep in India. Besides, the less usage of cryptocurrencies in India is also another reason for it, officials said.
“The culprits in child sex abuse cases in those countries are monitored by the police even after their prison term by tagging an RFID (radio frequency identification) ring on the leg that enables the polkice to locate them anywhere, anticipating the chances of committing such crimes again," the officials said.
