Bengaluru: Karnataka has reported three cases of teenage pregnancies within the past six months, with the latest incident coming to light at a private school in Channarayapatna town of Hassan district, reported by The New Indian Express on Saturday.

Experts and child rights officials have expressed serious concern over the recurring cases, pointing to gaps in child protection mechanisms within educational institutions. They have cited the absence of child protection committees in schools, lack of awareness about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, inadequate sex education, and parental ignorance as key factors contributing to such incidents.

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The commission’s chairman, Shashidhar Kosambe reportedly said, the main reason is not implementing the Karnataka State Child Protection Policy, 2016, in schools, especially at residential schools like those in Yadgir and Koppal where such incidents have taken place.

According to the policy, the commission must have two teachers or school officials and two outsiders who work in the interest of child rights, so that there is no prejudice whenever complaints are filed.

“It is the responsibility of the commission to monitor children and school staff. Awareness programmes on child protection policies, the POCSO Act, and sexual abuse must be conducted regularly for students and staff. Police must be informed immediately when a violation is detected. The policy and the commission must become part of the ecosystem and shouldn’t be treated as extra work,” TNIE quoted Kosambe as saying.

Psychiatry professor at ESI hospital, Rajajinagar, Dr Chandrashekar said, many adolescent girls become pregnant when they are sexually abused by their male friends. The victims undergo a lot of physical changes and mental trauma because of the way others respond. Therefore, whenever we come across a pregnant teenager, especially the victims of sexual abuse, we provide counselling to the victim as her family members.

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Bengaluru (PTI): A man was arrested for allegedly killing his wife following a quarrel over her job, police said on Saturday.

The deceased, Ayisha Siddiqi (39), worked as a masseur at a parlour.

According to police, this was the third marriage for the victim and second marriage for her husband.

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The couple frequently argued over her job, as the accused objected to her receiving regular calls from her workplace and had asked her to quit, which she refused.

On Wednesday, the accused, Saiyed Jabi, allegedly slit her throat with a pair of scissors at their residence in Agrahara Layout following a heated argument over the issue.

After the incident, the accused went to a police station and confessed to the crime, they said.

A case of murder was registered at Sampigehalli Police Station, and the accused was arrested, police added.