Kashmir Police vow zero tolerance as social media abuse surges
Srinagar, Feb 22: Earlier this week, Cyber Police Kashmir arrested a youth from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh for blackmailing a girl from Kashmir highlighting that the incident is a grim reminder of an increase in such incidents on social media platforms.
Senior police officials said here that with the proliferation of social media platforms, both men and women are becoming victims of online abuse, stalking, and blackmail. The surge in such cases of online harassment has prompted authorities to reiterate their zero-tolerance stance towards such crimes, especially in Kashmir.
“@Cyberpolicekmr has arrested an accused from Siwal Khas, Meerut (UP), for transmitting sexually explicit content of a victim on social media and blackmailing her. We reiterate our zero tolerance for crimes against women. @JmuKmrPolice @KashmirPolice @SrinagarPolice @IftkharTalib,” Cyber Police Kashmir said in a recent post on X.
“One of the most forms of online harassment is cyberstalking and sexual exploitation, where perpetrators target victims with explicit content, coercion, and threats,” said a senior police officer. “The growing phenomenon has made it clear that online safety is as critical as physical safety, with many cases involving the manipulation of vulnerable individuals, particularly women.”
The officer said over the past year, police in Kashmir have reported a significant uptick in complaints related to cyberstalking, where victims, mostly women, are subjected to unwanted attention, threats, and harassment through social media platforms.
“This kind of harassment is not just a violation of an individual’s privacy but an attack on their dignity and safety,” said a police officer dealing with cybercrime.
“We are fully committed to tackling online harassment and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice. Our wing has been actively working on increasing awareness about cybercrimes and strengthening our response to these growing threats.”
Mustaqeem Anwar, a senior computer engineer says that the advent of the digital era has made it easier for perpetrators to target individuals without leaving any physical trace. “This has complicated the task of law enforcement, which is already grappling with the challenges posed by an insurgency-prone Kashmir,” he added.
In many cases, he said perpetrators operate from remote locations, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track them down. Social media platforms, messaging apps, and other online forums offer anonymity, which emboldens offenders to carry out their crimes without fear of immediate repercussions.
Lawmakers have been vocal about the need for stringent laws to address these issues, particularly as the rise of online harassment poses significant risks to women’s safety.
Kashmir’s law enforcement agency J&K police have been gradually stepping up their efforts to tackle cybercrimes. The J&K’s Cyber Police have opened dedicated helplines and online portals to allow victims to report cyber-related offenses, including harassment, bullying, and sexual exploitation.
Officials of Zonal Police Headquarters said that they have seen a surge in online harassment cases, especially in the last few years. “In response, we have set up a dedicated team that deals exclusively with cybercrimes. We also hold regular workshops to educate the public on the dangers of online spaces and the importance of cybersecurity,” officials said.
