R Prasad
MUMBAI: Much akin to a drug that entices you to consume more of it with each passing day, Orkut—a social networking portal has mesmerized millions of users across the orb by bringing in long lost pals under one roof.
Countries such as the United Arab Emirates have already banned this site following claims of it endorsing decadence. The perils of this social networking site came into prominence with the dreadful end of 24-year-old Koushambi Layek—an employee with Tata Consultancy Services—shook the entire nation. She was allegedly killed by her aficionado Manish Thakur, a relationship that flourished via Orkut.
Credulous, she was. “Well, what to say about this sportive guy... He is really caring and loving guy... He is amazing, awesome and friendly. I neednot
Just when the news of Layek murder was dying a natural death, comes the incident involving Mumbai-based Adnan Patrawala allegedly falling victim to miscreants who created a phony profile—Angel. They then weaved a web and played around with Adnan and the entire episode concluded with this sixteen-year-old being abducted and garroted to death. The suspects—Ayush Bhat, Himmesh Ambavat and Sujith Nair have reportedly admitted the crime to the police.
Interestingly, even as the news of the teenager’s death was being telecasted across news channels, someone had tinkered with his profile and deleted videos, scraps and the photo album. Even as the investigation team ponders over the identity of Angel, both the events (involving Koushambi Layek and Adnan Patrawala) have raised quite a few vital questions on the authenticity of people who use such mediums to make new pals.
Online mediums such as Orkut and Facebook have given birth to new breed of Internet users who weave the weapon of anonymity to cast their web on innocent souls. Says Arati Raval--Manager at a reputed Media house and a regular user of the site—“The solution is simple. Don’t make new friends in cyberspace where anonymity is used like a weapon.”
Internet icons such as Google that houses Orkut would have to reinforce their surveillance systems to tap such wrongdoers. Users also opine that the use of identity proofs such as school or college IDs, PAN (Permanent Account Numbers)/Credit Cards should be viewed before a user gets to become a member of such communities, so they can be constantly tracked.
All said and done, online acquaintances must be sure of what they are getting into failing which they go offline for life!