Operation Megh Chakra, Aim, Conducted Year, POCSO Act

Operation Megh Chakra was carried out by CBI against the dissemination and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The Operation was conducted following the information provided by Interpol’s Singapore Office, about the internet sale and distribution of material including that of child sexual assault.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor

Operation Megh Chakra

Operation Megh Chakra was an international operation conducted by the CBI in September 2022, as a response to online child sexual exploitation cases with international linkages. 

• The operation aimed to gather inputs from Indian law enforcement and coordinate investigations with international agencies via Interpol.
• To collect information from Indian law enforcement agencies and coordinate with international counterparts via Interpol to investigate CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) activities.
• A similar operation named Operation Carbon was conducted in November 2021 across 13 States and 1 Union Territory.
• CBI searched 59 locations across 20 States and 1 Union Territory as part of this operation.
• Focused on Indian nationals allegedly involved in the online sharing, downloading, and transmission of CSAM using cloud-based storage platforms.Over 50 individuals were examined, and the CBI registered two cases.
• International Child Sexual Exploitation image and video database by Interpol is an investigative and intelligence tool. The tool helps investigators exchange information on incidents of child sex abuse. 
• CBI happens to be a nodal agency for Interpol International child sEXUAL exploitation image and video database. 

Child Sexual Abuse in India

The term Child Sexuall Abuse is defined as “the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she doesn’t fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society.” by the WHO. 

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• The Indian Penal Code skips out multiple crimes against children, some of them including non-penetrative sexual assault, harassment and exploitation. 
• To tackle these problems, the government introduced the POCSO act in 2012. 

POCSO Act, 2012

POCSO Act, 2012 stands for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The law focuses on protecting children under 18 from sexual abuse and exploitation, ensuring justice while prioritizing children’s well-being.

Key Features of the POCSO Act, 2012:

• Burden of Proof: The accused is presumed guilty unless proven innocent.
• Gender-Neutral Law: Protects both boys and girls under 18, regardless of gender.
• Universal Accountability: Offenders are punished regardless of their age or gender.
• Stricter Punishment for Authority Figures: Harsher penalties apply if the offender holds a position of trust (e.g., police, security personnel, government employees).
• Regulates Media Depiction: Section 13 prohibits using children for sexual gratification in media, including visual representation of sexual organs.
• Ban on Child Pornography: Both real and virtual abuse, including offensive or indecent portrayal of children, is strictly prohibited.