Three youths have been arrested from north Sikkim on charges of blackmailing a minor girl and trying to extort money from her family by sending lewd photos of the girl to her father.

Sources said the girl’s father had filed a complaint at the cyber crime police station on April 11, alleging that some youths were sending lewd photos of his daughter from two cell phones and demanding money.

The trio — Rajibul Sha, Manjay Alam and Jainul Ali — all residents of Chopra in North Dinajpur district were arrested by a team of the cyber crime police of the Siliguri Metropolitan Police from Mangshila, a locality in north Sikkim. Charges under POCSO and information technology act have been brought against them.

“The girl had relations with one of the youths and he had come across with some of her photos. The youth drew up a plan with some others and were threatening the family for money. They had intimidated the family that if the they do not pay them, they would circulate the girl’s photos on social media,” said an officer.

The police have filed a petition in a local court seeking their custody. “We need to interrogate them further for more information,” said an officer.