98% cases of child abuse remain unreported: SC judge
Agartala, July 30: About 97-98 per cent of child abuse cases are not reported to the appropriate authorities in the country, Supreme Court Judge Deepak Gupta said here at a symposium.
"The cases are not reported because these incidents of cruelty or ill-treatment happen within the family or (involve) close friends or relatives," Justice Gupta said here on Sunday at a symposium on juvenile justice.
Quoting researchers and other sources, he said: "The perpetrators or offenders in many cases of child abuse are members of the same family or relatives or close friends and neighbours. Authorities should take this issue very seriously."
Gupta, who was the first Chief Justice of Tripura High Court before he was transferred to Chhattisgarh High Court, and later elevated to Supreme Court, said child abuse cases must be dealt with the help of computerisation and the e-court system.
"Minor crimes concerning children should be dealt with by involving parents or guardians instead of the juvenile court."
Addressing the symposium, Tripura High Court Chief Justice Ajay Rastogi said of the 1.21 billion population, 39 per cent are children or below the age of 16 years, who are "the future of our country and they should be given all child friendly atmosphere".
Citing many instances, Tripura High Court Judge Subhasish Talapatra said children's voices are not heard in the family as well as in the schools, and they are not properly respected anywhere in the society.
Urging the government to formulate a time-bound action plan for the welfare of the children and women, Talapatra said there are inadequate resources and infrastructure for the benefit of the children.
He asked the government to implement both the Integrated Child Development Schemes and Integrated Child Protection Schemes.
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who inaugurated the symposium, said his government would implement all the laws meant for the welfare of children and set up juvenile homes in all the eight districts.
Tripura High Court Judge Arindam Lodh and Tripura Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Santana Chakma also spoke at the symposium, jointly organised by Tripura High Court's Juvenile Justice Committee and Tripura Social Welfare and Social Education Department.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
