Probe into terror suspect allegedly using mobile phone at prison should be handed to NIA: BJP leader
Bengaluru (PTI): Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka on Tuesday demanded that the case concerning a terror suspect allegedly using a mobile phone in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail here be handed over to the NIA for a detailed probe.
The BJP leader said an investigation needs to be done to find out as to with whom the terror suspect was in contact over the phone.
He also expressed suspicion about any links between the terror suspect and those connected to the blast near the Red Fort in Delhi on Monday, that left 12 people dead.
Recently, there was a row over videos purportedly showing inmates, including notorious criminals and a terror suspect enjoying preferential treatment inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru.
The videos that had emerged last week allegedly showed notorious criminals, including serial rapist Umesh Reddy and a terror suspect who is said to be -- Juhad Hameed Shakeel Manna, using smartphones, as part of the alleged preferential treatment they enjoyed inside the high-security prison.
"There is suspicion that the incident in Delhi was a terrorist act. It is yet to be confirmed and central probe agencies have arrested some people in connection with the incident. At the same time, an incident has come to light where a terror suspect used a mobile phone in Parappana Agrahara jail," Ashoka said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "It needs to be probed whether the terror suspect at the Parappana Agrahara prison has any links with the perpetrators behind the blast in Delhi. Was he in any way directly or indirectly involved? This is very important. The investigation has to be done in this angle too. For the probe in this angle, the investigation should be given to the National Investigation Agency."
"With whom was he talking over the phone? Who supplied him the phone? Who is behind it? All of this has to come out. This is an act of treason and a matter concerning national security," Ashoka said, expressing suspicion.
Noting that doctors and other highly educated people are indulging in terror activities, the BJP leader, pointing at the Delhi blast, incident said they are "high-tech terrorists", and there is need to be more vigilant about them.
Appeasement of a particular community by the Congress is the reason for all of this, he alleged.
The blast took place in a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening, killing 12 people and gutting several vehicles, officials said.
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
