Kolkata/Kharagpur: The rise in cyberbullying, sextortion, misuse of private photos and videos among students has prompted IIT Kharagpur to launch the ‘Vishwas’ cell on Wednesday to ensure students can seek help before fear, shame and blackmail escalate into a crisis.Director Suman Chakraborty said, “The initiative aims at providing an institutional support mechanism to address cyber-related complaints and incidents, creating awareness about cyber safety, and guiding students and other members of the IIT Kharagpur community in dealing with cyber threats. Through this initiative, the institute reinforces its commitment to building a safe, secure and digitally responsible campus environment.”An official said they have observed a concerning trend where students are lured in, and perpetrators gather their personal information to blackmail them, extorting money and threatening to leak private photos or manipulated images to their families and society. He said, “Driven by fear, students often suffer in silence, experiencing extreme panic and anxiety that we fear could potentially trigger tragic decisions. To combat this massive underlying issue and protect our campus of 17,000 students, we have launched a coordinated institutional effort and helpline called ‘Vishwas’. Students can call the helpline number, email us, meet us in person or submit their issue confidentially. This will ensure that any student can reach out to us urgently and receive immediate, confidential help from our dedicated crisis team.”
