The Jalalkheda police of Nagpur rural district successfully cracked a case of child sexual abuse after conducting extensive searches for the accused across Assam and Nagaland. Through meticulous technical analysis, the police were able to zero in on the accused, who turned out to be a minor. What began as a seemingly impossible hunt for an unknown digital predator ended on May 12 when the minor was apprehended deep in the hills of Assam.
Background of the Case
On January 23, a frightened minor girl walked into the Jalalkheda police station and filed a complaint stating that an unknown person had been bombarding her with vulgar messages and threats on WhatsApp from multiple mobile numbers. The police immediately registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and also under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Investigation Challenges
With no eyewitnesses or direct leads, the investigators faced a daunting challenge. The team, in collaboration with the Cyber Police Station Nagpur Rural, launched a technical analysis of the WhatsApp chats, call records, and digital footprints of the accused. The breakthrough came when the digital trail pointed toward distant locations in Assam and Nagaland.
Operation and Arrest
An operation was launched under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Harssh A Poddar, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Mhaske, and Sub-Divisional Police Officer Parag Pote. A team was dispatched to Udalguri district in Assam. The team, along with local police, conducted searches across the challenging terrain for 12 days.
The accused minor, who had used multiple mobile numbers to hide his identity, was rounded up from a remote location in Assam. The team is now in the process of bringing the accused to Nagpur. The accused will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
