HYDERABAD: ON Wednesday, Hyderabad South Zone police took 47 minors into custody for reportedly watching pornographic videos at internet cafes in the Old City.
The police then summoned their parents, aged between 14 and 17, and held a counselling session for them.
The minors were then let off. Strangely, some mediapersons, who were invited to speak to police on the effort, were allowed to video the minors, despite legal and media guidelines against identities of minors in conflict with law or in vulnerable positions being disclosed.
South Zone police said that their efforts were aimed at curbing cyber offences and preventing minors from watching pornography or objectionable videos and photos and to avoid them from engaging in criminal activities against women and girls. To this end, the police conducted a special drive on cyber cafes located in 17 police limits.
“We found minors watching porn videos and pictures in internet centres in various police limits. We registered 37 cases on internet centres for violating rules and regulations and 47 minors were taken into custody for counselling as they were watching porn and browsing internet without supervision of parents,’’ the South Zone deputy commissioner of police V Satyanarayana said.