Delhi-based Anja Kovacs, project director of the Internet Democracy Project, said that the increase seems to mostly have kept pace with the growth of internet penetration.

"As more and more people have come online, more and more abuse can be seen as well," Kovacs told IANS.

"Bullying in general, not simply online, is something that schools should take up. It is important to discuss with young people the harmful effects of bullying. Even bullies have often been the victim of bullying at some point in time. Bringing out those experiences can be a valuable starting point for a conversation about this with children," Kovacs said.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing)Rajneesh Garg "we have yet to get any complaint regarding cyber bullying".

"If a teenager or a juvenile puts any defamatory writing or pornographic picture on others on Facebook page, this can be dealt with under the relevant sections of the IT Act," Garg, who also handles cyber crime cases, told IANS.

"In such a case, a minor is sent to a reformatory home, while a major will have to face a term of around five years," he added.

Sameer Malhotra, director, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Hospitals, who treats approximately two to three such cases in a month, said that the effects on the victim include low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loneliness/emptiness, anxiety related symptoms and psychosomatic problems.