Sundargarh Police Arrest Man for Cyber Blackmail Using Morphed Photos
In a significant crackdown on cyber harassment, police in Sundargarh district have arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly sending obscene messages and morphed photos and videos to young women and subsequently blackmailing them. The arrest was made on Wednesday night following an intensive investigation that spanned several weeks.
Complaint and Investigation Details
The case came to light when an 18-year-old girl lodged a formal complaint on December 10 last year. She reported receiving unsolicited calls, obscene messages, and digitally altered photos and videos from an unknown number. Disturbingly, she also informed authorities that similar content had been sent to several other girls in her locality from the same number.
In her detailed complaint, the victim alleged that the sender had threatened to publicly share the morphed content on social media platforms if she did not comply with his demands. This prompted immediate action from the police, who registered a case under relevant cyber crime sections and launched a thorough investigation.
Police Action and Arrest
To trace the origin of the malicious messages, police sought technical assistance from the cyber cell. During the probe, officers successfully identified the location of the accused. A dedicated police team then conducted a raid in his village on Wednesday, leading to his detention.
The accused, identified as Wilson Jaksa, was brought to the police station for questioning. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the crimes. Police officials revealed that he had procured a SIM card specifically to open an account on an instant messaging platform. After using it to contact victims, he discarded the SIM card in an attempt to avoid detection.
Modus Operandi and Evidence
According to police statements, the accused employed a calculated method to target his victims:
- He contacted young women through two popular social media platforms.
- After establishing contact, he obtained their phone numbers under false pretenses.
- He then sent obscene messages and morphed photos and videos to these numbers.
- Finally, he used this content to blackmail the victims, threatening to make it public if they did not meet his demands.
During the arrest, police seized a mobile phone and a SIM card from the accused. He was formally arrested on Wednesday night and is currently in custody.
Ongoing Investigation and Police Statement
Inspector Manoranjan Kumbhar, who is overseeing the case, stated, "We are continuing our investigation to ascertain whether there are more victims." This suggests that authorities suspect the accused may have targeted additional women beyond those who have already come forward.
The case highlights the growing concern over cyber harassment and digital blackmail in the region, particularly targeting young women. Police have urged citizens to exercise caution when sharing personal information online and to report any suspicious activities immediately.
