‘Derogatory FB post sent through proxy servers’

A proxy server is difficult to track, making it impossible for law-enforcing agencies to trace the accused who posted the pictures.

Partially burnt vehicles lying at a street in Bhosri, Pune after the rampage by mobs over the derogatory postings of Maratha King Shivaji and Bal Thackeray on a social networking site. Photo: Special Arrangment.

The Maharashtra police have little hope in tracking the culprits who posted derogatory pictures of Maratha King Shivaji and late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Facebook on Saturday, sparking violence in Western Maharashtra.

“The Ministry of External Affairs has written to Facebook seeking technical assistance in the case. They are yet to revert formally but they have informally informed us that the contents were posted using proxy servers,” a senior officer from the Maharashtra police told The Hindu , on condition of anonymity.

These proxy servers have been tracked to various countries like the Netherlands, Romania, Ireland and Saudi Arabia. A proxy server is difficult to track, making it impossible for law-enforcing agencies to trace the accused who posted the pictures.

On Sunday, the case was transferred to the cyber cell of the Mumbai crime branch. Earlier this week, a Letter Rogatory (letter of request) was sent by the Mumbai police to Facebook seeking help in investigating the case.