While cyber frauds have risen unabated in Odisha over the past few years, latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on cyber pornography and morphing cases against women in the State is even more shocking.
As per the NCRB data released recently, Odisha tops the list of states where women have been targeted through cyber pornography and morphing.
Out of the 2597 cases registered in India in 2021, the state recorded 301 cases of cyber pornography and 264 morphing cases, the highest among all states in the country.
In the initial stage, the criminals lure unsuspecting women in the pretext of good job offer or marriage proposal and then blackmail them through social media.
While some blame poor policing for the infamy Odisha has earned over the years, some say lack of awareness has resulted in spiralling of such high number of cases.
Shedding more light on the issue, cyber expert Prashant Sahu told OTV, “Anti-social elements steal photos of women from social media after developing relationships with them online. Then they make those viral in the same social media platforms in a bid to blackmail them.”
“Social media is a medium. We really cannot blame it. That is why women need to be more careful on internet and be aware of their surroundings,” Sahu added.
Former Police DG, Sanjeev Marik said, “The society needs to get matured in this regard. When it comes to morphed pictures of women, our society never takes it as a crime. They just start to blame the victim. The crimes against women will continue unabated until the stigma is gone.”
“The police needs to be more proactive and take these cases seriously,” Marik added.
Echoing the same concern, social activist Rutuparna Mohanty said, “There needs to be a massive awareness drive in block level to make the women understand the perils of internet and how the fraudsters are prowling."
“Children need to be aware in their schools and family too,” she said. While 1931 cyber crime cases were registered in Odisha in 2020, it rose to 2037 in 2021. However, the most startling revelation that the NCRB made, not a single accused was put behind bars by Odisha police between 2018 and 2021.