Kochi-based fighter groups circulating derogatory pictures of children: Multiple arrests, search for 'Aditya Advait' admin

KOCHI: The Kochi City Police have arrested a youth for posting derogatory posts about children in abusive groups on Facebook Messenger. The 26-year-old, a resident of Kadavanthra, was arrested under the POCSO Act on the complaint of a Cheranallur native who said that he had posted a picture of her eight-year-old daughter along with the private parts of women and men. The Cheranallur native’s spouse was also arrested on the complaint filed by the sister of the arrested Kadavanthra native three months ago for circulating derogatory pictures of children.

Police say about the incident: The spouse of the woman who filed the complaint and the arrested youth are members of groups that abuse each other on Messenger. There are groups known as ‘fighters’ on Messenger. Kochi-based fighter groups are known by names like Uppum Mulakum, Aditya Advaith, Neermathalam, Monjathi, Vellathil Veena Poocha, Adam John, and Adholokam.

The sister of the arrested Kadavanthra native had filed a complaint with the Kadavanthra police against the spouse of the Cheranallur native three months ago. The complaint was that he had posted inappropriate pictures of four children from her family on the Messenger group. The Kadavanthra police had arrested the auto driver, the spouse of the Cheranallur native, with the help of the cyber police. POCSO was also charged in this case.

The Cheranallur police registered a case the other day on the complaint filed by the wife of the arrested auto driver. Subsequently, the brother of the first complainant was arrested. The picture of an eight-year-old girl was circulated in a fighter group called Adam John, whose admin is him. The picture was shared by many fighter groups. Investigations are ongoing to identify the account owner of the group called 'Aditya Advait', which circulated the same picture. The accused and their family members in both cases are members of the abusive groups. They use the pictures of children posted on Facebook on Messenger.