(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Kochi ~ A 16-year-old boy from Kerala recently became the victim in a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online dating apps.

Police charged 14 people, including government workers, with sexually assaulting the teenager. The group allegedly befriended the boy through the app before the attacks occurred.

As the investigation unfolded last month, it was discovered the teenager, who is now safe, had been using fake profiles to stay active on the platform for almost two years.

Tragically, this kind of predatory incident is not a rare occurrence, for the police. They report that such crimes are becoming increasingly common.

They say this falls squarely within the patterns they regularly encounter through their Digital De-addiction (D-DAD) programme, an initiative aimed at identifying and rehabilitating children hooked on online games, social media, and pornography.

Launched in 2023, the D-DAD project is the first of its kind in the country.

At present, there are six centres operating under it-in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur. With encouraging responses from parents, schools, and child rights activists, the police now plan to expand the initiative to Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad, Idukki, and Kasaragod before the close of the 2025-26 financial year.

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