IMPHAL, Apr 7: Altogether 16 people have been pulled up by Imphal West District Police, Cyber Crime Unit for circulating Physics question paper of the ongoing Class XII exam being conducted by COHSEM through WhatsApp.
The apprehended individuals include Tourangbam Taison (26) s/o late Imocha of Patsoi Part I Lamkhai. He is said to be the administrator of a WhatsApp group.
Others include Moirengjam Naocha alias Sanayaima (21) s/o Tombabu of Kumbi Terakhok Mayai Leikai, Laishram Koireng s/o Nungshikanta of Kumbi Terakhok Mayai Leikai and Elangbam Mushuk (21) s/o Bijoy of Hiyanglam Makha Leikai.
The 12 others are juveniles and presently studying in Classes XI and XII at Extra Edge School, Millennium Institute of Science, Herbert School, HRD Academy, Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School and Advance Public School.
Briefing media persons at the office of Imphal West SP this afternoon, Additional SP (Ops) Dr S Ibomcha said that a serious crime unfolded on April 5 as question papers of Physics exam were uploaded and circulated through WhatsApp and Facebook at around 9.20 am just before the exam started.
COHSEM Secretary Dr Maisnam Bidyasagar lodged a complaint regarding the matter at around 6 pm of the same day at the office of Imphal West SP. Subsequently, Imphal West District Police, Cyber Crime Unit was instructed to investigate the matter
“SI Abhijit Karam and SI Abdul Sharif immediately launched an investigation under my direct supervision”, Dr S Ibomcha said.
The cyber crime was cracked within 24 hours and 16 cyber criminals were pulled up. The investigation was assisted by Imphal police station and Kumbi police station.
It was Tourangbam Taison who was pulled up first who is an administrator of a WhatsApp group.
Altogether 12 juveniles were also pulled up for they were involved in sharing the question paper through social media. They would be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
Earlier, a forged question paper of Chemistry was uploaded and circulated through social media which seriously affected the psyche of all students who were appearing the exam, the SP said quoting the COHSEM Secretary.
Even though 16 cyber criminals have been already pulled up, the investigation would go on and all stringent measures would be taken up to curb such crimes.
What some people posted in social media read like, “A question paper of Physics have been received and it is said to be the question paper of the Physics exam scheduled today. Let’s wait till 10 am to confirm its genuineness”.
Though such posts are more about sharing information, they are a form of cyber crime.
Even though they uploaded such posts with the intention to inform public that some people have been committing crime, they should inform police or lodge a complaint.
Such matters/posts could have been taken lightly if they were posted after the exam. As such, these posts constitute a form of cyber crime, remarked Dr Ibomcha while appealing to all the people to join hands in order to curb such cyber crimes.
Source: The Sangai Express
