A senior police officer on Tuesday said that the accused were arrested on Monday night following an investigation under Operation Dignity, which was launched after the police received credible information about channels allegedly involved in circulating such material, including CSAM.
The police assured victims that their identities will remain protected in accordance with statutory requirements. During the investigation, a police team led by Leishangthem Jeebit Singh, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Moirang in Bishnupur district, recovered and seized 14 mobile phones and a laptop allegedly used to commit the offences. The arrested persons have been identified as N Rajesh Singh alias Maipakchao (21), from Bishnupur; H Dhanajit Singh alias Taison (19), from Bishnupur; S Saphaba Singh (19), from Imphal West; Th Cavendish Singh alias Ingocha (21), from Kakching; H Rojit Singh (19), from Bishnupur; M Clinton Singh (28), from Bishnupur; Kh Bipin Singh (31), from Thoubal; S Simpson Singh (34), from Imphal West; A Aria Singh (24), from Bishnupur; S Alexander Singh (31), from Kakching; K Rakesh Singh (18), from Imphal West; Ch Robert Singh (27), from Imphal West; and one child in conflict with the law.
A police statement said, “The investigation indicates the network is organised, profit-driven, and self-sustaining, with subscriber demand encouraging further recording and release. A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, told HT that the investigation had uncovered “an organised secondary market fuelled by non-consensual leaks, hacking, and in several instances, direct production and grave non-consensual sexual exploitation by the accused”. They also said assistance will be provided to facilitate content removal through StopNCII and platform-level takedown mechanisms, along with access to legal aid, trauma counselling and state victim compensation support.
“As the investigation is underway, no further information can be provided about the accused or victims,” the officer said.
A suo motu case was registered under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
