THANE: Thane recorded at least one Pocso Act case daily this year till Aug 16, with Kalyan accounting for more than a quarter of the 233 cases in the city’s five zones.
According to data from Thane police, chargesheets have been filed in 180 of the 233 cases. Badlapur, where the sexual abuse of two children was reported, falls under the Ulhasnagar zone.
Police highlighted substantial challenges for effective prosecution, citing investigative lapses, witness hostility, delayed chargesheets and procedural errors in handling forensic evidence as major impediments. In a case of child sexual abuse in a school’s bathroom in 2013, parents of a five-year-old withdrew from the trial. The parents, who were from the legal profession, said they didn’t want the child to go through the trauma of recalling the horror during the trial.
A senior police officer revealed a troubling pattern: that in most cases, the perpetrator is known to the child, such as a relative or a neighbour. “This adds a layer of complexity, as it involves betrayal of trust within familiar circles.”
Advocates and experts recommended appointing more female prosecutors, improving evidence collection, enhancing training for law enforcement and medical professionals, and launching community awareness programmes.
Thane police commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre highlighted ongoing efforts to engage with educational institutions through the ‘Police Kaka and Police Didi’ programme, in which police officers visit schools and colleges to address issues. The initiative has seen an increase in activity this year, with 1,175 visits to educational institutions by July, compared to 1,527 visits in 2023.
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Thane recorded a minimum of one Pocso Act case per day up to August 16 this year, with Kalyan accounting for over a quarter of 233 cases reported within the city. Investigative lapses, witness hostility, and procedural errors were cited as major prosecution challenges. Efforts included educational outreach programs and increased visits to educational institutions by law enforcement officials.
In Thane, two nursery children were sexually abused by an unidentified school attendant, as revealed by the girls’ guardians. Aged 4, one of the victims disclosed the abuse to her guardian, leading to a police complaint. The police have registered a case under POCSO and are actively searching for the accused.
