D A I J I W O R L D

Mangalore, Sep 1, 2009

The younger generation walks along with modern technology, and their sharp minds help them quickly learn innovative ways to use them. However, the fast speed of technology also throws a serious threat to humanity, especially young lives. If not nipped at the bud, the situation may soon go out of control.

Not many years ago, Mangalore was known to be a peaceful town . Even today, the city can maintain that identity if every soul makes an attempt to keep 'religion' in her / his heart and act like a fellow human being outside and come together as one single united family to crush forces of evil that engulf our younger generation. It is difficult, but never impossible.

The undivided Dakshina Kannada is facing another serious threat these days, and silently destroying individuals and families. Unfortunately, no major media forums have raised an alarm about this serious issue. For the benefit of the younger, vulnerable generation, their parents and teachers, we have investigated this grave issue, and thought it right to share this with our sizable daijiworld audience worldwide. Our hope and desire is that this shocking truth makes an impact and could bring about decisive preventive actions from the district administration which will surely save many youngsters from ruining their lives.

'Captured Sex' is not an oft-repeated term and may sound strange at first. But this is a deliberately doctored word just to give you an understanding of a larger prevalent problem. Alarmingly, a huge number of live sex clips have been passed on from one mobile handset to another, especially among the college students. Easily available handsets with advanced features have made it easy for the student community to abuse them. Micro cameras with large memories can capture scenes without the knowledge of the subject, easily equated to popularly known “candid cameras’ or 'sting operations'.

Daijiworld team interviewed about 20 randomly selected students, without giving out our identity or explaining the purpose of the interview. The outcome of these interviews throws open a mighty challenge to parents, teachers, guardians and citizens at large to try and stop this right away.

We have learnt that an average 4-6 minute video clip that has a couple engaged in sex is circulated every day. The majority of these clips are shot in Mangalore, and shockingly a few of them are within the college campuses or in the office premises or in hotel apartments. Most of the pictures captured are with the consent of both partners, although some have been made using hidden cameras.

Blackmail through the Lens:

We have painfully discovered that we have lost 6 to 8 precious young lives in the twin districts in the last few weeks, due to blackmails! This serious matter has somehow escaped the attention of the media and the administration. Perhaps, lack of evidence or insufficient information may be reason for this lapse. Once a sexual act is caught on camera and relayed through mobile phones, the blackmail process begins. The girls are the most affected and most exploited. Very few have the courage to face it boldly, many shy away, some succumb and yet some end their lives putting an end to their torment, disgrace and shame. The young minds do not realize that those few moments of carnal pleasure puts their unguided lives in total disarray!

Girls between the age of 15 and 20 are the main victims of these sex scams. Those victims who have been exploited through hidden cameras are the worst affected. Their lives are never the same. They lose concentration in their studies; they have no peace of mind and live in fear that they would be exposed. Most unfortunate victims have no other choice but to give in and agree to give money or offer their bodies in exchange for silence from the blackmailers.

Surprisingly, many youngsters with whom we talked to, do not see these blackmails a threat but instead, take it lightly. The boys are less threatened than the girls.

"This is just for fun, and we do not see any danger in this. Some of my friends capture videos, we watch it and then destroy!' says one student who was bold enough to speak about 'captured sex scams'. But these young minds are not aware that, once the clip is passed on to another set, it does not need long time to spread like a wild fire. The recent episode of 'Mysore Mallige' clips, which were captured for the personal pleasure had been leaked and became a talk of town not only in Mangalore but throughout the state.

We interviewed another girl who was facing a threat. She was invited to the hotel room in Mangalore to be interviewed for featuring in a telefilm. During the interview she was asked to undress in front of two men supposedly conducting the interview. She was fooled into believing that it was mandatory to do that, in order to find out whether she had the right figure to perform the roles. What she did not notice was the hidden camera that was filming her every move!

Even married people have fallen prey to this sex scam. In an incident that was exposed in Mumbai few weeks ago, a 35-yeal-old housewife developed friendship with a 21-year-old boy who took full advantage of her 'invitation to sex' .Without her knowledge he managed to film their compromising acts and later started blackmailing her for over a year for money and repeated sex. The woman finally took a bold step and informed the nearest police station in a desperate bid to come out of this scandal. Luckily for her, the police helped her by arresting the boy and not revealing the woman’s identity.

Another female college student, who studies in a reputed college in Mangalore had more shocking things share. According to her, these days capturing sex through mobile cameras is hobby and for some it is a prestige of sorts. But she has strongly pointed out that, drug consumption among the students has led to the advent of such video capturing incidents.

It is sad that, such incidents are happening at our door step and we are either unaware of it or show little concern. Drugs are very well circulated in some of the Mangalore colleges. This has serious impact students who could slip and slide down the slippery slope of disgrace, shame and misery and even death!

Daijiworld team also spoke to some of the parents in the city. For many of them, it came as a rude shock but for others, it was not new as they had heard about it earlier. For some it was that of disbelief. “We do not have to worry about it as our children are well behaved and god-fearing" said an innocent mother of a student. But we later learnt that her daughter was one of the victims of 'captured sex' and the parents were totally unaware of it.

Although it has stayed with a small percentage of the student community, we cannot sit back and relax. It will not be long before more innocent lives fall victim to this crime.

Another parent, an owner of a medical store and a parent of young daughter, says "The recent TV advertisements on oral and conventional contraceptives has had a greater impact among the young generation.” He did not hesitate to disclose that, in his medical store there was at least a 50% increase in the sale of such contraceptive pills after the extensive advertisement on TV during prime time serials and IPL cricket matches. "The buyers average from the age group of 16 to 35” he said.

Need of the hour:

The need of the hour is a strong and unstinted support from parents, teachers and related district administration to fight against such heinous crimes. Sadly, there is hardly any awareness among the student community or the elders.

Parents must make their teenage children aware of such incidents and the dangers that follow. Sex education and instructions being considered a taboo in most Indian communities, it becomes difficult for parents to talk to their children about sex and the dangers of such sex abuse. Just by making them aware of these beastly crimes, parents can play a vital role in guiding the child on a right path.

The innumerable number of free to air TV channels sensationalize crime stories to make it mind capturing but with no potential of awareness among the audience. Perhaps, guidance regarding this from parents could be first step towards minimizing the acts.

Teachers, who are the second parents for students, also need to play an important role here. Rising beyond the call of duty and stretching further than the stipulated syllabus, teachers must take every opportunity to warn the students of the dangers of sex abuse, exploitation with hidden cameras and it’s after impact. Perhaps, a workshop, seminar or symposium regarding this issue among higher secondary students can be a great help for the young students.

Now that many such ‘captured Sex' cases are already on air, the district administration can come to the rescue of these young victims who have fallen prey to such scams due to ignorance . Police officers must assure and convince the victims that they will not be exposed to the press or public. The unscrupulous elements must be warned of stiff punishment.

We invite esteemed readers of daijiworld.com to come forward with constructive comments, suggestions and join us in our bid to destroy the barbaric “wolves” and stop them from further destroying the lives of youngsters and their families!