Amravati Rural Police have arrested a 22-year-old man from Himachal Pradesh for allegedly trapping a minor girl through social media, molesting her, and threatening her family by circulating private photographs online. The accused, identified as Babu Hasan from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, was taken into custody on April 30 in an operation that authorities described as a strong warning to cyber offenders. According to investigators, the victim and the accused became acquainted on Instagram nearly two years ago. During a meeting in Nagpur in January, the accused allegedly clicked objectionable photographs of the girl without her consent and later used them to harass and intimidate her.
Police said the harassment intensified after the victim blocked the accused on social media. In retaliation, he allegedly threatened the girl’s mother and sent objectionable photographs to the victim’s grandmother’s mobile phone in an attempt to defame the family. Following a complaint lodged at Benoda Police Station in Warud taluka on April 26, officers immediately launched an investigation into the matter. After the case was registered, the accused reportedly fled from Moradabad and went into hiding. However, cyber tracking and technical surveillance helped police trace his location to a factory in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, where a special team apprehended him successfully.
Officials stated that the accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act. After his arrest, he was produced before the court and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Police officials noted that the case once again highlights the growing risks faced by minors using social media platforms without adequate safeguards. Authorities have urged parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online interactions and advised youngsters to avoid sharing personal information or photographs with strangers on digital platforms. The operation has been hailed as a major success for Amravati Rural Police in combating cyber-related crimes.