Mumbai: In the backdrop of the surge in the number of cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 across the state, special police teams will be formed in each police station to handle POCSO cases. The team will comprise of 12 police personnel, out of which 4 to 6 will be women officers. They will also rope in NGOs to counsel the victims. Special training would be imparted to the personnel to handle the POCSO cases.
Quaiser Khalid, an inspector general of Protection of Civil Rights Wing for women and child said, “Sexual abuse of children is a worrying trend and needs to be countered through better reporting, investigation, prosecution, counselling and awareness.”
“Children’s sexual abuse cases are complicated; we need to more cautious as well as alert. The counselling part is very helpful to deal with the stress which the child is going through and to understand the psyche of children better. The caring and counselling part is a must,” Mr Khalid added.
The police team will be trained to dig out the facts and figures of the cases.
A senior police officer said, “In most of the case, the children are sexually abused by those who they know them. Hence children are always scared to talk to their parent or with us. So this move will help us to crack such cases.”
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals that a total of 94,172 cases of crime against children were registered in the country in 2015.
Maharashtra accounted for the 14.8 per cent of total crimes committed against children in the country.
