Mizoram Commission Demands Severe Penalty for Child Assault Accused

Aizawl, June 25 (PTI) — The Mizoram State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has called for severe punishment against an individual recently apprehended for alleged sexual assault on a minor and the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

MSCPCR chairperson Jimmy Laltlanmawia, speaking to the media in Aizawl, disclosed that Lalrampana was detained by the CBI on June 9 for purportedly assaulting a minor and uploading a video of the incident online.

"MSCPCR deeply regrets the occurrence and demands stringent action against the suspect," Laltlanmawia stated.

He reiterated that the POCSO Act strictly prohibits sexual assault on children, as well as the possession or dissemination of child sexual abuse videos or images.

Violators can face imprisonment of up to five years and fines reaching Rs. 10 lakh, with a potential extension to seven years and an additional Rs. 10 lakh fine for repeat offences, he explained.

Expressing concern about incidents of child sexual abuse in Mizoram, Laltlanmawia emphasized the commission’s hope that such events cease altogether in the state.

Currently, 194 under-trial cases under the POCSO Act are ongoing in various district courts throughout Mizoram.

The CBI utilized cyber intelligence, forensic tools, and international cooperation to track Lalrampana’s activities. After registering the case on May 30, the CBI pinpointed his location and conducted a raid on his premises in Aizawl on June 4, where incriminating digital devices were seized.

The agency accused the suspect of creating, collecting, storing, and uploading child sexual abuse material, violating existing legal statutes.

A subsequent forensic examination uncovered a significant cache of child abuse content, including graphic images and videos, as noted by a CBI spokesperson.

These materials were cross-referenced with data from Interpol's International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database and Cyber Tipline Reports (CTRs) provided by Google and shared with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs, the spokesperson stated.

The analysis further revealed that a minor had been threatened and sexually assaulted by the accused.

The case was identified suo motu by the CBI, as neither the victim nor the family had reported the incident to any law enforcement authority prior to the CBI's involvement, the agency confirmed in a statement.

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