Operation P-Hunt: more suspects under scanner in Kozhikode - The HinduPublished - June 08, 2026 07:32 pm IST - KOZHIKODEAs part of Operation P-Hunt, a State-wide drive to track down individuals searching for and sharing child pornography online, the cyber investigation team in Kozhikode city has gathered the details of more suspects and is preparing to initiate stringent legal action. Officials associated with the operation said 27 gadgets seized from suspects over the past eight months are currently being examined by the cyber forensic wing.“There are juveniles, information technology experts, elderly persons and migrant workers among the suspects. They will be arrested once the forensic reports are received,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police S.M. Pradeepkumar, who is leading the investigation. Mr. Pradeepkumar, who is also the Station House Officer of the Kozhikode City Cyber Crime Police Station, said forensic experts would be able to retrieve erased data from the seized gadgets, which would be produced in court as evidence against the suspects.The officer said the involvement of juveniles in accessing child pornography was a matter of serious concern in the city and called for stronger intervention from society and increased vigilance by parents. He added that the police would continue conducting surprise inspections at regular intervals to identify offenders involved in circulating or accessing such material online.“As responsible citizens, anyone who comes across such content has the responsibility to report it directly to the police or Childline. Such videos or photographs received even from anonymous persons should also be reported to the cyber police for safety reasons,” Mr. Pradeepkumar said. He added that the advanced tracking systems now being used by the police were highly accurate in identifying suspected users, and negligence in such matters could land even uninformed persons in legal trouble.According to members of the cyber investigation team, seven cases have already been registered in Kozhikode city following two recent raids. Those found to have been in contact with the suspects for sharing or viewing child pornography content will also be booked after the final forensic analysis report is received, officials said.Investigators said people across different age groups were found to be involved in the cyber offence despite ongoing legal action. While some were found accessing such content without fully understanding the legal consequences, others were found to have deliberately attempted to evade law enforcement systems while engaging with the material, they added.Published - June 08, 2026 07:32 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }