A protest in the city against increasing sexual attacks on women and children
Police allowing even weak complaints to be filed to blame for the rapid rise
In what seems to be a shocker, more than 150 rape cases against children have been reported this year - the highest ever in Bengaluru's history. Fear, confusion and desperation to prevent future cases have played an active role in the spiralling rise from a mere 15 cases of rape under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) last year, according to experts. According to statistics available with the Bangalore City Police, 260 cases have been registered under POCSO Act in 2014 alone. Of the 260 cases registered under the act, over 130 cases pertain to rape charges. In 2013, while 50 complaints were registered under the POCSO act, only 15 attracted rape charges.
The city police records say that this year, so far, 15 cases of rape on minors under IPC section 376 have been registered, which takes the total number of cases registered for rape to about 150. The POCSO Act came into effect from 2012. According to the police, north, east and south Bengaluru are at the top respectively in POCSO Act cases.
Additional commissioner of police (law and order) Alok Kumar said, "After POCSO Act came into effect, the sheer definition of rape has changed. Although POCSO Act came into effect in 2012, awareness came in force only after the 2014 Marathalli school rape. In the coming days the awareness may increase and most cases will be registered under POCSO Act."
Even lesser privileged in the society are becoming aware of the act and the law; so they too are coming forward to file complaints of sexual abuse on children whenever suspected. Earlier, social repercussions on the child and the stigma attached inhibited them from filingpolice complaints, Kumar said
The police have also faced the heat in the recent past for trying to fend off complaints - especially after the Frazer Town rape incident in which the case was booked for mere molestation. "Now, the police don't want to take chances and are registering the cases.
Totally the society and the situations have changed," he said while explaining the sudden increase in the number of cases.
Former chairperson of child welfare committee, Meena Jain, said, "The police are promptly registering cases. Earlier, the case was booked under IPC section; now any crime against children is booked under the POCSO Act."
But, she says, the reason for the number of cases of rape on children is rising because the sections are not well-defined by police. "They have to specifically mention the offence. There are seven offences in POCSO Act, besides 'penetrative sex' and 'aggravated sex' or any other kind of sexual assault. This has to be clearly defined in the case, the charges of rape may come down, she said.
The experts have also blamed children being over-bombarded with information, although with a well-intended aim to fortify them with knowledge and awareness so they can sense what is right and what is wrong.
However, the experts say, it may have led to the number of cases going up - many of them based on mere suspicion.
"Educating the child about the POCSO Act or 'good touch' and 'bad touch' is a major mistake committed after the Act came into effect," says Meera Jain. "Allow the child to grow naturally...The awareness has to be among the teachers and other staff."
Jain is critical of NGOs and the police visiting schools to spread such awareness among the children.
"If these are taught to children, they get confused and it will affect their mind. We should immediately stop teaching about good touch and bad touch to children. My friend's eight-year-old daughter went home from school complaining of headache. When her mother asked what happened the girl demanded an explanation on what rape is? The mother was not able to tell her anything."
Jain feels that only parents have to teach their children about what is good and bad. "Nimhans should release a book on what needs to be taught to a child and at what age," she feels.
Alok Kumar admitted to Jain's point, saying "Instead of us (the police) and a few NGO's going to schools educating children about the POCSO Act, we should actually educate the adults - the teachers, school staff, and people in residential areas. We should stop teaching the children about these things as it affects their mind.
IN PUBLIC DOMAIN
In July, a six-year-old girl studying in the school was sexually abused by two gym instructors in an international school in Marathalli. The gym instructors Lalgiri, 21, and Waseem Pasha, 28, along with the chairman Rusthum Kerilwala were arrested for not bringing the incident to the notice of the police.
In September, a 10-year old girl was allegedly sexually abused by the tuition teacher Biju, 31, in HSR Layout. He was arrested.
In October, a three-yearold girl complained of being sexual assaulted in another international school in Jalahalli. The attender Gundappa, 45, was arrested in the case.
In November, a Hindi teacher was alleged to have sexually abused a six-year-old girl in a school in Indiranagar.
In December, a three-yearold girl was raped twice by the attender. This incident occurred in the premises of an upscale school on Old Madras Road. The attender Nagaraj, 27, was arrested by the police.
'Educating kids on good touch, bad touch is a major mistake'
Educating the child about the POCSO Act or 'good touch' and 'bad touch' is a major mistake committed after the Act came into effect," says Meera Jain, former chairperson of child welfare committee. "Allow the child to grow naturally...The awareness has to be among the teachers and other staff."
Jain is critical of NGOs and the police visiting schools to spread such awareness among the children. "If these are taught to children, they get confused and it will affect their mind. We should immediately stop teaching about good touch and bad touch to children. My friend's eight-year-old daughter went home from school complaining of headache. When her mother asked what happened the girl demanded an explanation on what rape is? The mother was not able to tell her anything."
Jain feels that only parents have to teach their children about what is good and bad. Nimhans should release a book on what needs to be taught to a child and at what age," she feels.
In what seems to be a shocker, more than 150 rape cases against children have been reported this year - the highest ever in Bengaluru's history. Fear, confusion and desperation to prevent future cases have played an active role in the spiralling rise from a mere 15 cases of rape under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) last year, according to experts. According to statistics available with the Bangalore City Police, 260 cases have been registered under POCSO Act in 2014 alone. Of the 260 cases registered under the act, over 130 cases pertain to rape charges. In 2013, while 50 complaints were registered under the POCSO act, only 15 attracted rape charges.
The city police records say that this year, so far, 15 cases of rape on minors under IPC section 376 have been registered, which takes the total number of cases registered for rape to about 150. The POCSO Act came into effect from 2012. According to the police, north, east and south Bengaluru are at the top respectively in POCSO Act cases.
Additional commissioner of police (law and order) Alok Kumar said, "After POCSO Act came into effect, the sheer definition of rape has changed. Although POCSO Act came into effect in 2012, awareness came in force only after the 2014 Marathalli school rape. In the coming days the awareness may increase and most cases will be registered under POCSO Act."
Even lesser privileged in the society are becoming aware of the act and the law; so they too are coming forward to file complaints of sexual abuse on children whenever suspected. Earlier, social repercussions on the child and the stigma attached inhibited them from filingpolice complaints, Kumar said
The police have also faced the heat in the recent past for trying to fend off complaints - especially after the Frazer Town rape incident in which the case was booked for mere molestation. "Now, the police don't want to take chances and are registering the cases.
Totally the society and the situations have changed," he said while explaining the sudden increase in the number of cases.
Former chairperson of child welfare committee, Meena Jain, said, "The police are promptly registering cases. Earlier, the case was booked under IPC section; now any crime against children is booked under the POCSO Act."
But, she says, the reason for the number of cases of rape on children is rising because the sections are not well-defined by police. "They have to specifically mention the offence. There are seven offences in POCSO Act, besides 'penetrative sex' and 'aggravated sex' or any other kind of sexual assault. This has to be clearly defined in the case, the charges of rape may come down, she said.
The experts have also blamed children being over-bombarded with information, although with a well-intended aim to fortify them with knowledge and awareness so they can sense what is right and what is wrong.
However, the experts say, it may have led to the number of cases going up - many of them based on mere suspicion.
"Educating the child about the POCSO Act or 'good touch' and 'bad touch' is a major mistake committed after the Act came into effect," says Meera Jain. "Allow the child to grow naturally...The awareness has to be among the teachers and other staff."
Jain is critical of NGOs and the police visiting schools to spread such awareness among the children.
"If these are taught to children, they get confused and it will affect their mind. We should immediately stop teaching about good touch and bad touch to children. My friend's eight-year-old daughter went home from school complaining of headache. When her mother asked what happened the girl demanded an explanation on what rape is? The mother was not able to tell her anything."
Jain feels that only parents have to teach their children about what is good and bad. "Nimhans should release a book on what needs to be taught to a child and at what age," she feels.
Alok Kumar admitted to Jain's point, saying "Instead of us (the police) and a few NGO's going to schools educating children about the POCSO Act, we should actually educate the adults - the teachers, school staff, and people in residential areas. We should stop teaching the children about these things as it affects their mind.
IN PUBLIC DOMAIN
In July, a six-year-old girl studying in the school was sexually abused by two gym instructors in an international school in Marathalli. The gym instructors Lalgiri, 21, and Waseem Pasha, 28, along with the chairman Rusthum Kerilwala were arrested for not bringing the incident to the notice of the police.
In September, a 10-year old girl was allegedly sexually abused by the tuition teacher Biju, 31, in HSR Layout. He was arrested.
In October, a three-yearold girl complained of being sexual assaulted in another international school in Jalahalli. The attender Gundappa, 45, was arrested in the case.
In November, a Hindi teacher was alleged to have sexually abused a six-year-old girl in a school in Indiranagar.
In December, a three-yearold girl was raped twice by the attender. This incident occurred in the premises of an upscale school on Old Madras Road. The attender Nagaraj, 27, was arrested by the police.
'Educating kids on good touch, bad touch is a major mistake'
Educating the child about the POCSO Act or 'good touch' and 'bad touch' is a major mistake committed after the Act came into effect," says Meera Jain, former chairperson of child welfare committee. "Allow the child to grow naturally...The awareness has to be among the teachers and other staff."
Jain is critical of NGOs and the police visiting schools to spread such awareness among the children. "If these are taught to children, they get confused and it will affect their mind. We should immediately stop teaching about good touch and bad touch to children. My friend's eight-year-old daughter went home from school complaining of headache. When her mother asked what happened the girl demanded an explanation on what rape is? The mother was not able to tell her anything."
Jain feels that only parents have to teach their children about what is good and bad. Nimhans should release a book on what needs to be taught to a child and at what age," she feels.
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