A 23-year-old man was arrested from Lucknow for allegedly posing as a woman on Instagram, using a fake profile and luring minor girls into sending their obscene pictures and videos to him, police said on Tuesday. The accused identified as Abdul Samad, an air-conditioner mechanic, was arrested using technical surveillance from Lucknow, they said, adding that he used to initiate conversations with teenage children and watch their obscene photographs and videos.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Atul Kumar Thakur said, "Our team from Fatehpur Beri police station apprehended Abdul Samad from his house in Lucknow and recovered his smart mobile phone containing the details of many girls and their obscene videos and photos." The matter came to light after a complaint was received on August 27 from a 15-year-old victim, who was also targeted by the accused in the same manner, the police said.