CYBERSTALKING
WITH A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE –
Ring-Ring Telephone Ring – Chatting Sessions Turn Dangerous
BY
JYOTIRMOTY BERA
Contact Us : www.linkedin.com/in/jyotirmoybera
Ring-Ring Telephone Ring – Chatting
Sessions Turn Dangerous
What is Cyber stalking?
Cyber stalking is the use of technology to harass or stalk. Cyber stalking is the
repeated use of technology to threaten, annoy, mentally harm, a specific
individual or group of individuals. Cyber stalking is also used to retrieve
information about a specific individual so that the perpetrator may obtain
personal gain.
Where does cyber stalking occurs?
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Phones
SMS
Email
News Groups/ Message Boards
Internet Sites
Chat Rooms
Social Media ( Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc...)
What are the risks of Cyber stalking?
The only term stalking means to consistently following any particular person over a long period
of time. This activity also involves the harassment or threatening behaviour. The stalker
consistently following a person everywhere at home, market etc, and the stalker also threaten
that person by repeatedly sending the messages, doing blank phone calls.
Real Life Example - Ring-Ring Telephone Ring
Richa Sharma was the first lady to register a cyber-stalking case. Richa Sharma
is a victim of cyber-stalking. Delhi Police registered India’s First Case of Cyber
stalking. Police were able to trace culprit. Delhi Police investigated the entire
matter and ultimately arrested the offender, Manish Kathuria.
Why did he harass Ms. Sharma?
 Manish Kathuria, a friend of Richa Sharma husband ,wanted to Insult and harass
their family.
 Manish Kathuria conspired and he wanted to humiliate Richa Sharma. He also wants
to break down their married life.
What help did he get to commit the crime?
 At first he gathered a lot of information about Ms. Sharma and her family for a
long time.
 He took help mirc Internet Chat messaging service (www.mirc.com).
 He also take help on the telephone.
How the criminal committed the crime?
 Richa Sharma Husband's friend was Manish Kathuria and he often started
coming to Richa Sharma house. Then Manish became a good friend of Richa
Sharma and from there Kathuria got a information about Richa Sharma identity
and mobile number.
 Then Manisha Kathuria took the help of internet chatting website. In 2001,
mIRC (www.mirc.com) is the most popular online internet chat website in India.
He uses Richa Sharma's personal information on this chatting web site and
created a profile named ‘Ms. Richa Sharma’.
 Kathuria used to chat from fake Ms. Sharma profile and encourage chatter in
obscene language. He also deliberately giving her telephone number to other
chatters encouraging them to call Ms. Richa Sharma at odd hours.
How she realized she was being victimized?
Consequently, Ms. Sharma received more than 30 calls in 3 days and many chatters
contacted her. Almost all of the calls were made to her at odd hours from all over India
and a few of the calls came in from outside India too. More calls started coming to Richa
Sharma and chatters used obscene language.
How did the police investigate the crime?
She got fed-up with these calls and complained to the Delhi police. Delhi Police
first started investing in calling numbers. The police can catch owner of those
numbers and police want to know who is chatting with them. Police started an
investigation into chat website with a computer expert. Consequently the ‘IP’
address was traced and police investigated the entire matter and ultimately arrested
the offender, Manish Kathuria.
What legal action Ms. Richa take?
Cyber stalking is not covered by the existing cyber laws in India. It is covered only under
the ambit of Section 72 of the IT Act that perpetrator can be booked remotely for
breach of confidentiality and privacy. The accused may also be booked under Section
441 of the IPC for criminal trespass and Section 509 of the IPC again for outraging the
modesty of women.
Conclusion
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We need to be more careful and not share our personal information
and mobile numbers with anyone.
Specially women should report such cases to the police without fear.
Contact Us : www.linkedin.com/in/jyotirmoybera