New Delhi: The Delhi Police Cyber Cell has identified 26 boys between classes 10 and 12 of prominent South Delhi schools, who were allegedly part of the 50-member ‘Bois Locker Room’ group on Instagram that was reported for its obscene, inappropriate and potentially criminal content.
According to screenshots of the group’s conversations, that were shared on social media Sunday, the boys had casually discussed rape, as well as gang-raping a specific girl, and shared explicit photos of their female classmates.
The cyber police, who took suo motu cognisance and filed an FIR Monday, had apprehended and questioned a 15-year-old Monday evening, who identified the 26 suspects. The teen was questioned again Tuesday and later sent to a juvenile correctional home.
Three of the 26 suspects have been called in for questioning, ThePrint has learnt.
According to the police, all 26 teenagers will be called in for questioning and their phones seized for scrutiny.
A police source told ThePrint that they discovered similar groups on Instagram, and are investigating if the same group of boys were running any of them.
The issue came to light after a girl, who was accidentally added to the Bois Locker Room group, took screenshots of the chats and shared them with classmates, and on social media Sunday.
The police have registered a case under sections 465 (forgery), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code and section 67 and 67A of the IT Act for transmitting obscene and sexually explicit material in electronic form.
Meanwhile, a complaint was also filed by the administration of one of the private schools at Saket police station, and a parent has approached the Crime Branch after his daughter said her images were being circulated on the group.
Also read: Delhi women’s commission wants ‘Bois Locker Room’ probed, sends notice to Instagram, police
Group created in April
According to a second police source, the Instagram group was created in April.
Although the alleged members were students from different schools, most are known to each other through coaching classes and sports activities.
“While most are known to each other, some are friends of friends who were added after the group became popular within their circle. We are trying to ascertain the admin of the group,” the source said.
The cyber unit has also written to Instagram for the IP addresses of all the members.
“Most of these students have deleted their accounts, switched off their phones. Once we have the IP addresses of all users, it will be easier to locate them and call them for questioning,” the source said.
After they are apprehended and questioned, the students will be sent to a juvenile correction home.
Also read: Locker room boys to IT cell men: India’s rape culture grows without shame or consequences
15-year-old traced through IP address
According to a source, some explicit content has been recovered from the phone of the 15-year-old who was apprehended Monday, which will now be sent for forensic examination.
“We reached the 15-year-old by tracing the IP address of the device he used to share a photo on that group. His phone was traced, following which his location and address was also found. He was apprehended from his residence,” a police source said.
“His parents had no knowledge of the group. Though the group has now been deleted and many members quit it as soon as they got a hint of the controversy, we are in the process of identifying each one of them,” the source said.
“More boys will soon be called in for questioning. The school authorities are also being contacted,” he added.
Also read: Stuck at home in lockdown, Delhi continues to record rape and molestation cases