Based on investigations carried out by the National Child Protection Authority’s Internet Crime Investigation Unit regarding a group involved in sexually abusing young girls online, seven persons have so far been arrested, the National Child Protection Authority said issuing a special media release.
The group involved in this crime had targeted young girls online and had obtained their nude images and inserted the photos of the girls obtained from social media and had frightened these girls and sexually abusing the victims by threatening to release the doctored images to internet, according to the NCPA.
As a result of these investigations, the National Child Protection Authority's Special Police Investigation Unit has arrested seven persons who had online threatened a girl in Borella, taken her to various places, and raped her repeatedly.
The suspects have been produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court and remanded. The suspects had been produced before an identification parade on the 17th February.
The National Child Protection Authority said that investigations are continuing to arrest more suspects in the future in connection with the incident.
All the suspects arrested are under 20 years. The Authority points out that it is a cause for concern that there are school children among them which should be a matter of concern to parents and teachers.
The investigations are continuing under the direction of the National Child Protection Authority Chairman Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana.