On 28th September, the National Human Rights Commission took cognisance of a complaint filed by the Sewa Nyaya Uthhan Foundation against exploitation of minor children for creation and circulation of abusive and derogatory content on Instagram by a purported coaching centre with account name “Pratibha_ed_squad”. The coaching centre publishing politically charged videos using children, operates from Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district.
The complaint alleges that children are being scripted, tutored, and frequently made to appear in videos containing abusive, derogatory, and politically charged expressions. The videos are recorded and uploaded on the Instagram handle “Pratibha_edu_squad” for reach and engagement.
“It is alleged that children, including those belonging to socially and economically vulnerable backgrounds, are being scripted, tutored, and repeatedly made to appear in videos containing abusive, derogatory, and politically charged expressions, which are thereafter uploaded and circulated publicly for digital reach and engagement. The complaint further alleges that a large number of such videos depicting minor children have been uploaded on the platform, raising serious concerns regarding their dignity, privacy, psychological well-being, informed parental consent and possible exploitation by adults controlling or facilitating such content,” the NHRC notice states.
“The allegations, if established, disclose serious issues concerning the care, protection and dignity of children and their alleged use by adults for creation, publication and amplification of digital content, warranting examination under the human-rights jurisdiction of the Commission,” it adds.
The NHRC Bench headed by Member Priyank Kanoongo has issued notices to the Etah Senior Superintendent of Police, District Magistrate, Meta India’s Managing Director and Country Head, in addition to the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The Commission has directed Etah Police to identify the children seen in the derogatory videos uploaded by ‘Pratibha_ed_squad’ and ensure that they are provided appropriate protection and counselling.
“Identify the children appearing in the impugned videos and ensure that they are produced before the competent Child Welfare Committee (CWC), wherever warranted, for assessment of their care, protection, safety and well-being. Necessary counselling/psychosocial support shall be provided through the CWC/DCPU, while strictly protecting the identity and privacy of the children,” the notice reads.
In addition, the police have been directed to identify the individuals running the social media in question and probe the role of adults involved in scripting, recording, uploading, or otherwise facilitating the content.
“Ascertain the identity of the person(s) operating or controlling the social-media handle. recording or creating the videos, scripting or prompting the children, uploading, circulating the content and otherwise facilitating or benefiting from such activity, including the role, if any, of parents/guardians, tuition/coaching operators or other adults,” the notice adds.
Furthermore, the NHRC has directed the police to examine the digital material in question, identify commission of cognisable offence, and register FIR against those involved in creating, recording, uploading, circulation, or facilitation of such concent as well as the concerned social media platform Meta/Instagram.
“Examine the entire digital material and, where commission of any cognizable offence is disclosed, ensure registration of FIR and investigation against all persons/entities responsibly, including the person(s) creating, recording, uploading, circulating or facilitating such content and the concerned social-media platform/intermediary, wherever its role or liability is disclosed, under the applicable provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protcction of Children) Act, 2015, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, 1nformation Technology Act, 2000 and other applicable law,” it stated.
The NHRC asked the Etah Police to ensure that children are no longer made to appear in such derogatory and abusive videos in the future.
The police have also been directed to ensure that at no point is the privacy of the concerned children violated.
The police is required to submit an Action Taken Report which will “specifically indicate the number and age of c identified. action taken by the CWCDCPU. Counselling and protection measures provided, persons identified as operating and creating/uploading the content, FIR/action taken, if any. and steps taken for preservation/removal of the impugned digital material.”
NHRC directions to Meta India
The NHRC has directed Meta to examine the Instagram handle ‘Pratibha_edu_squad’ and the derogatory videos involving minor children.
Meta has been asked to submit a report with responses to several questions, including how such content was permitted to be uploaded and repeatedly circulated,and whether the content in question generated any financial benefits through advertising or platform-based monetary gains. In addition, Meta is also required to reveal what action it took to restrict or remove the violative content, and steps taken to preserve the account-registration credentials of the Instagram handle in question.
NHRC directions to MeitY
The notice also includes directions from the NHRC for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Addressing the MeitY Secretary, the notice directed examination of how children, particularly those stated by the complainant to be from socially and economically vulnerable backgrounds, are “being repeatedly used such content and how the platform has permitted its continued hosting, circulation and amplification. MeitY shall examine the platform’s due diligence, child-safety and grievance redressal mechanisms, ensure appropriate action in accordance with law, and submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks.”
OpIndia reported about Pratibha the ‘home tutor’ with misleading Instagram bio, brainwashing minor school children with anti-Modi hate
On 28th September, OpIndia reported about a home tutor, identified as Pratibha, who has been indoctrinating young kids (some below the age of 5 years) with political propaganda and anti-Modi hatred.
The Instagram handle @pratibha_edu-squad’s bio reads, “Indian Administrative Service (IAS)” and “The UPSC Odyssey”. However, OpIndia could find no publicly available information about Pratibha clearing the IAS exam and becoming an officer.
Pratibha did not post content using children as ‘political props’ until the unrest and chaos were unleashed in India’s National Capital by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The first politically charged video was uploaded on 14th July 2026. She claimed, “Hunger strike is the last resort for anyone. Imagine the condition of a country where people need to take to the streets and fast to demand the resignation of a Minister.”
Pratibha had also tagged the Instagram handles of Abhijeet Dipke and the Cockroach Janta Party in that video. Receiving better traction, Pratibha began using children for such videos more frequently.
The caption of one video reads ‘Sharm karo Modi Ji’ while another says ‘Modi Baba Chor.’
A child who is unable to speak coherently is forced to say ‘Gande Uncle Vote Chor.’ Another kid is heard saying, “Modi hatao Desh bachao.’ Two other students were forced to mock ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
