Kendrapada: Two Juveniles Arrested for Circulating Minor's Explicit Photos Online
In a disturbing incident highlighting the dark side of digital connectivity, Jagatsinghpur police apprehended two juveniles on Tuesday for allegedly circulating nude photographs of a 15-year-old girl on various social media platforms. The victim, a Class IX student, and the accused are classmates, adding a layer of betrayal to the cybercrime.
Incident Unfolds After Local Alert
The case came to light last week when concerned locals informed the girl's mother about the explicit images being shared widely on mobile phones and social media. Shocked and distressed, the woman took immediate action by lodging a First Information Report (FIR) on Monday. Promptly responding to the complaint, police registered a formal case against the two 16-year-old boys.
According to police investigations, the duo had befriended the girl and managed to take private photographs on their mobile phones under deceptive circumstances. They subsequently uploaded both the compromising images and the victim's mobile number online, exacerbating the harassment and invasion of privacy.
Legal Charges and Juvenile Justice Proceedings
The juveniles have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (Amendment) Act. Specifically, charges include:
- Section 294 of BNS for public display of obscene content
- Section 356 for criminal defamation
- Section 351 for criminal intimidation
- Section 79B for acts insulting the modesty or privacy of a woman
- Sections 66A, 66C, and 67 of the IT Act related to cyber offenses
Both accused were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Jagatsinghpur on Tuesday. In a significant development, the JJB rejected their bail pleas and ordered them to be sent to the observation home in Angul. Inspector Rashmi Ranjan Das confirmed the legal actions, emphasizing the seriousness with which such cybercrimes are being handled.
Focus on Rehabilitation Under Juvenile Justice Act
Lawyer Subash Nayak provided context on the legal framework governing such cases, noting that a "juvenile in conflict with the law" refers to any child below 18 years alleged or found to have committed an offense. He highlighted that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, prioritizes rehabilitation and reform over punitive measures, aiming to reintegrate young offenders into society as responsible individuals.
This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced digital literacy and stricter enforcement of cyber laws to protect minors from online exploitation. It also raises questions about peer dynamics and the ethical use of technology among adolescents, calling for proactive measures from educational institutions and law enforcement agencies.
