Guwahati: Manipur Police have arrested 13 people, including a minor, for allegedly circulating and selling non-consensual intimate photographs and videos of women through Telegram channels and WhatsApp groups.Some of the channels were also found to be distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), police said, describing it as an organised, profit-driven and self-sustaining network which worked on a subscription model.Police said channel administrators allegedly ran exclusive private groups on a subscription basis, charging Rs 150 to Rs 500 or more. “They used teasers and previews posted on open platforms to attract subscribers, who paid through UPI apps such as GPay, PhonePe and BHIM before being given access,” police said.“On receiving credible information that administrators and users across multiple Telegram channels were circulating, trading and monetising non-consensual explicit videos and photographs of local Manipuri women, including distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Manipur Police registered an FIR at Moirang PS and launched an investigation codenamed Operation Dignity,” police said.The arrests on a suo motu FIR were made over the last few days in Bishnupur, Imphal West and Kakching districts.Police have seized 14 mobile phones and one laptop and have so far neutralised 38 of the channels identified.“These channels are very exclusive channels,” a police officer said, adding that the content was being “monetised”.Police said many clips featured women from Manipur who had not consented to their distribution. Subscriber demand encouraged further recording and release of such material, according to the investigation.Investigators also found a secondary market among administrators, who exchanged leaked material obtained through hacking and other means.In some cases, police said, the administrators themselves produced the content, amounting to grave non-consensual sexual exploitation by the accused.“Investigation is ongoing into the wider network, financial trails and additional victims,” police added.
