The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has taken suo motu cognisance of the circulation of graphic images, videos, and identifying details of minor victims by certain social media handlers and digital media platforms.
The Commission’s action follows the spread of sensitive content related to two children who lost their lives in the Tronglaobi incident on April 7, 2026, as well as a minor internally displaced girl whose body was recovered from beneath the Singjamei Bridge on April 6, 2026.
In a statement issued by Chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar, the Commission observed that publishing and circulating such material in an undignified manner amounts to a serious violation of child rights, dignity, and privacy.
The MCPCR stated that such actions are punishable under multiple legal provisions, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012—particularly Section 23, which prohibits disclosure of the identity of child victims. It also referred to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which safeguards the privacy and dignity of children, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which includes provisions related to lawful investigation, media conduct, and protection of victims’ identity.
Describing the circulation of such content as “secondary victimization,” the Commission termed it a grave violation of both legal and ethical standards.
The MCPCR has directed all individuals, social media users, and media platforms to immediately remove such content and refrain from further sharing or publishing any material that reveals the identity of victims or portrays them in an undignified manner.
The Commission further warned that failure to comply with the directive would invite appropriate legal action under the relevant laws.
