The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Udham Singh Nagar is receiving 4 to 5 cases every month involving minors allegedly lured through social media and later exploited, according to its chairman Dr. Ratnesh Singh.

The cases involve contact through fake identities or accounts created under other names. After online conversations, minors were allegedly called out of their homes on the pretext of meeting someone and taken away. Some complaints also include allegations of sexual assault, explicit videos and blackmail.

The reported incidents have raised concern in the district because some minors were allegedly taken to other cities or states. The CWC has advised parents to monitor children’s online activity and explain the risks of communicating with unknown people on social media.

Cases reported to the committee

In one case, a 14-year-old girl from Rudrapur was allegedly drawn into a relationship and taken to Kerala by a young man this year. The allegation is that he married her there and sexually assaulted her. Police traced her location and recovered her.

In another case, a 15-year-old girl from Gadarpur was allegedly contacted by a young man through her friend. She was reportedly called to a room on a pretext, where sexual assault was alleged and a video was made.

The CWC said the video was then allegedly used to blackmail the girl and call her to different places. 8 other young men were accused of sexually assaulting her at those locations. According to the committee, the girl’s father searched for her and brought her back.

A separate case from Gadarpur was reported in March. The CWC said a young man befriended a 15-year-old girl through a social media account created under another name. He allegedly took her to Chandigarh, where sexual assault was reported. Police recovered the girl and arrested the accused young man.

These accounts describe allegations presented before the CWC and police action in specific cases. The allegations must be determined through the relevant investigation and legal process.

Advice for parents

The committee has urged parents to remain attentive to children’s online interactions without ignoring the risks associated with unknown contacts. It also wants children to understand that a person’s online identity may not be genuine.

Dr. Ratnesh Singh, chairman of the CWC, said parents should monitor their children’s activities and make them aware of the dangers of contacting strangers on social media. The committee’s reported monthly caseload indicates that online grooming and related exploitation remain a recurring concern in the district.

Conclusion

The CWC says 4 to 5 cases involving minors and alleged social-media-linked exploitation reach it each month. Parents have been asked to monitor online activity and discuss the risks of unknown contacts with children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many such cases does the CWC receive each month?

The Child Welfare Committee says 4 to 5 cases involving minors reach it every month.

Q. What online methods were allegedly used?

Some minors were allegedly contacted through fake identities or social media accounts created under other names. In one case, contact was made through a friend.

Q. What happened in the Rudrapur case?

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly taken to Kerala, where the accused young man allegedly married and sexually assaulted her. Police traced and recovered her.

Q. What allegations were made in the Gadarpur video case?

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and recorded. The video was then allegedly used to blackmail her, and 8 other young men were accused of sexual assault.

Q. What happened in the March Gadarpur case?

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly taken to Chandigarh by a young man who had contacted her through an account using another name. Police recovered her and arrested the accused young man.

Q. What has the CWC advised parents to do?

The committee has advised parents to monitor children’s online activities and explain the dangers of communicating with unknown people on social media.