Bhubaneswar, Nov. 18: The city police today arrested a 29-year-old youth and a teenager for allegedly posting and circulating obscene photographs of a 22-year-old girl on some websites.

The police have seized a laptop, a camera and six mobile phones used by the two accused for the purpose.

The accused Soumya Ranjan Sahu, 29, a native of Pattamundai in Kendrapara district, had allegedly taken the photographs of the girl a year ago.

Another accused, a 15-year-old juvenile, had allegedly circulated her photographs through mobile phones and had also uploaded the objectionable pictures on the net. The two had been staying in Laxmisagar and the prime accused is working in a private gas agency.

“We have found four obscene pictures of the girl so far and we are trying to ascertain whether the accused had given the photographs to others,” said a police officer.

The police registered the case on November 14 after getting a complaint from the victim’s father, a businessman. The girl’s father learnt from the relatives that the pictures were uploaded on the websites. The police are yet to trace the sites.

Both of them were booked under Sections 292 (obscenity), 354 (C) (capturing of objectionable photographs of woman), Section VI of Indecent Representation of Women (prohibition) Act 1986, Section-66 (E) and 67 of Information and Technology Act 2000.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the prime accused was very friendly with the girl. But her family had not approved of their friendship. The accused may have posted the photographs in a bid to take revenge on her,” said a police official.

Mall security review

The city police today interacted with the representatives of various shopping malls and major business establishments to review the security measures being taken by them in their premises.

“Establishments drawing a good number of visitors should install CCTV cameras in their premises and also at their parking lots. They must have doorframe metal detectors to prevent anti-social elements from carrying weapons,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

The police have also asked them to ensure proper fire fighting measures. They must have proper alarm systems. Another advisory was not to engage child labourers.

“To prevent cases of eve-teasing, the establishments need to engage adequate security guards only from registered agencies,” added Sharma.

While the city has around 10 shopping malls, it has hundreds of major business establishments.

The police have also asked the shops and business houses to shut down by 10pm.