Dramatic Rise in Child Sexual Abuse Reporting in Telangana

Recently, a number stopped parents across India in their tracks: child sexual abuse cases in Telangana jumped by 2,000% this year. Yes, you read that right.

Your first thought might be panic. Your second might be moving to a different state. But before you do either, let's talk about what this really means, and more importantly, what you can do about it.

The massive increase in reported cases isn't because more children are being physically harmed overnight. It's because Telangana finally started catching the people who watch, store, and share illegal content involving children online.

In February 2025, they created something called a Cyber Protection Unit that uses artificial intelligence to scan thousands of online reports that were sitting ignored in digital folders. Suddenly, cases involving people viewing and circulating child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) started getting registered and investigated.

The results were staggering. They didn't just find more cases – they arrested 15 people in a single operation, including IIT graduates, for watching and sharing this horrific content. These weren't creepy strangers in trench coats. These were educated professionals living normal lives while consuming content that destroys childhoods.

Here's what makes this particularly disturbing: it's an offense to circulate such content OR even view it. Every person who clicks, shares, or stores this material is creating demand for more children to be exploited.

Many of the victims aren't even local. The internet has made child exploitation a global business. A predator in Hyderabad can access content involving a child from anywhere in the world, while simultaneously creating demand for local exploitation.

The jurisdiction rules have been made crystal clear: if you're viewing illegal content involving children from your location, the case gets registered there.

Before you lock your child in their room forever, let's talk about what's actually working.

First, technology is finally on our side. The same AI that helped uncover all these cases in Telangana is now being used across India. Predators who thought they could hide behind screens are being tracked down faster than ever before.

Second, people are talking about this openly. When we were growing up, these topics were whispered about or ignored completely. Today, we have summits, awareness campaigns, and officials speaking publicly about protection strategies.

Third, jurisdictional confusion, that old excuse where cases got dropped because "it's not our area," is being eliminated. If a crime affects a child in your city, your local police can act, regardless of where the perpetrator is located.

Most online victims are in their puberty years, the age when children are naturally curious about sexuality but lack the judgment to recognize manipulation. They're active on social media, gaming platforms, and chat apps where predators know exactly how to approach them.

Predators don't start with illegal requests. They begin by building trust, understanding what the child likes, and offering gifts or special attention. By the time anything inappropriate happens, the child often feels complicit or ashamed.

Your child doesn't have to physically meet someone to become a victim. Online grooming, manipulation, and exploitation can happen entirely through screens.

Stop feeling helpless.

Experts are saying that we need a 360-degree approach. This isn't just about police officers doing their job. This is about teachers knowing warning signs, doctors recognizing trauma, lawyers understanding child psychology, and parents creating safe spaces for honest conversations.

The 2,000% increase in Telangana isn't a sign that the internet has suddenly become more dangerous. It's proof that we're finally taking this threat seriously and have the tools to fight back.

The predators were always there, hiding behind screens and anonymity. The difference now is that law enforcement has the technology and determination to catch them.

Start monitoring. Start talking. Start reporting suspicious activity. Your child's safety in the digital world depends on parents who refuse to look away from uncomfortable truths.