The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has rescued a 13-year-old girl in Karachi from a suspected dark web-linked network that allegedly instructed her to poison a cat before ordering her to harm herself, officials said. The intervention followed intelligence shared by an international agency, which alerted Pakistani authorities to suspicious online activity and provided internet protocol (IP) addresses linked to the network.
According to NCCIA officials, the girl had become involved with an online group that assigned her dangerous tasks. As part of the first task, she was allegedly ordered to poison a cat, resulting in its death.
The second task involved instructions to inflict serious harm on herself. However, NCCIA investigators managed to locate the girl before she could carry out the second instruction.
Officials stated that the international agency provided IP addresses being used across 13 countries, including Pakistan. The NCCIA Karachi team conducted a detailed investigation into the local IP address to identify the user.
Investigators initially examined the address to trace those involved in the suspicious activity, only to discover that the associated user was a victim rather than a perpetrator. NCCIA officials noted that the girl's parents were unaware of her involvement until investigators contacted them.
During questioning, the parents revealed they had noticed behavioral changes in their daughter over the past 6 months but had not linked them to her online activities. The agency has since briefed the family on the nature of the interactions and the potential dangers facing the teenager.
NCCIA investigators are now working to trace the accounts used to contact the girl and establish the identities of those operating the network. Officials are also examining whether other children in Pakistan have been targeted through similar activities.
No arrests have been announced as the investigation remains ongoing. The agency emphasized the importance of parental monitoring in the digital age.
Experts suggest that parents should maintain open communication with their children regarding their online presence and monitor the platforms they frequent. The NCCIA has urged citizens to report any suspicious online behavior or threats immediately to the relevant cyber crime wings to prevent further incidents.
The case has sparked a wider conversation about the safety of minors on the internet in Pakistan. With the rise of sophisticated digital threats, the NCCIA is coordinating with international partners to ensure that such networks are dismantled.
The agency remains committed to protecting the youth from the dangers of the dark web and ensuring that those responsible for such heinous activities are brought to justice.