With the incidents of rape and molestation cases against them increasing at an alarming rate, Dehradun, the provisional Capital of the State is turning out to be increasingly unsafe for the children. As per the data provided by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), there is a 100 percent rise in such cases from the year 2017 as compared to the year 2016. The guilty in a majority of cases were minors between an age group of 16 to 17 years.

As per the data of JJB, in the year 2016-17, 12 cases related to child molestation/rape were registered. In seven such cases, the apprehended minors were of 15 or 16 years of age while in three cases, the minors caught were 17 years of age.

In the year 2017-2018, 25 cases related to child molestation/rape were registered. In the 14 cases, the apprehended were minors were in an age group 15-16 ad 11 minors were 17 years old.

In the year 2018-19, nine cases in the JJB have so far been registered. Five offenders from the total cases registered were of 16 years or less age. The other four juvenile offenders were of 17 years.

Sharing his opinion about the rise in the cases, the principal magistrate of the JJB Dehradun, Bhavdeep Rabte said, “In a majority of cases boys involved were in an age group 16 to 17. This is an age where body undergoes hormonal changes and also the children try to explore more. Another thing is the use of the phone which has given access to children to have any sort of knowledge. It is important that parents remain in constant touch with their children especially at this age so that the kid knows what is good and bad. Also, a section of our society which is less privileged should be given more education.”

Adding more in this he said, “Our department regularly conducts counselling of the children in every three months. We reach out to school and teach children about the natural phenomena and laws like POCSO in our country.”