News: The Punjab Police have implemented new SOPs to investigate sacrilege cases, emphasizing religious sensitivity, thorough evidence collection (including videography), and the tracing of crypto transactions using tools like Chainalysis and Bubblemaps. The SOPs also cover digital sacrilege (morphed images, deepfakes, etc.), psychiatric evaluations for potentially manipulated accused, and strict deadlines for investigations (60-90 days). Electronic chargesheet filing is mandated, along with immediate proposals for prosecution sanction.
AI Analysis: The inclusion of cryptocurrency tracking in sacrilege investigations signals a growing awareness of the potential for illicit funding and cross-border coordination in such cases. The use of blockchain analytics tools demonstrates a proactive approach to leveraging technology for law enforcement.
