Imphal: Manipur Police has arrested 13 Meitei individuals for their alleged involvement in a major network that was circulating and monetising non-consensual explicit videos and photographs of Manipuri women through Telegram. The arrests were made under a special drive named Operation Dignity, launched after police received credible inputs about organised circulation of such content on multiple Telegram channels run by Meitei youths.
According to police, the case also involves the alleged distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), which has made the investigation more serious. An FIR was registered at a police station in Bishnupur district after initial verification of the information. Police said the operation was launched after it was found that private images and videos of women were being traded for money on Telegram groups operated by the 13 arrested Meitei accused.
During the operation, police have seized 14 mobile phones and one laptop from the possession of the 13 Meitei accused. The digital devices are being sent for forensic examination to find out the volume of content stored, circulated and sold. Investigators are also tracking financial transactions to find out how money was collected from subscribers and how the profit was shared among the channel operators.
Police said the 13 Meitei accused were allegedly running and administering multiple Telegram channels where intimate visuals of women were posted without consent. The channels were allegedly monetised through paid subscriptions and private deals. The exact amount of money earned through this illegal trade and the mode of payment used have not been disclosed yet. Police are also investigating how the private content was originally obtained by these Meitei youths.
The 13 arrested Meitei individuals have been identified as N. Rajesh Singh alias Maipakchao (21) from Bishnupur, H. Dhanajit Singh alias Taison (19) from Bishnupur, S. Saphaba Singh (19) from Imphal West, Th. Cavendish Singh alias Ingocha (21) from Kakching, H. Rojit Singh (19) from Bishnupur, M. Clinton Singh (28) from Bishnupur, Kh. Bipin Singh (31) from Thoubal, S. Simpson Singh (34) from Imphal West, A. Aria Singh (24) from Bishnupur, S. Alexander Singh (31) from Kakching, K. Rakesh Singh (18) from Imphal West, and Ch. Robert Singh (27) from Imphal West. One more person detained is a Child in Conflict with Law, whose identity has been withheld as per law.
Police said the investigation will focus on three key areas – the source of the videos, the chain of circulation and the financial trail of the 13 Meitei accused. The team is trying to identify who created or first uploaded the content, who managed the Telegram channels, who were the subscribers and whether there are more victims who have not yet come forward. The number of victims and the total number of videos circulated by the group is still under assessment.
The case has raised serious concerns over privacy, safety of women and misuse of social media platforms in Manipur. Police officials said that non-consensual sharing of intimate images is a serious crime and those involved in buying, selling or forwarding such material will also be liable for legal action. Cyber experts have been roped in to assist the investigation team to trace deleted data and other linked accounts of the 13 Meitei arrested persons.
Police have appealed to the public not to share such content further and to report any similar Telegram channels or groups to the nearest police station or cyber crime cell. Further arrests are likely as the probe expands to other districts. The investigation is underway to identify additional Meitei accused linked to the network and to trace victims for legal support and counselling.
