Rising juvenile crime worries Ggn cops

With the age of first time offenders going down drastically, there seems to be an urgent need to address the socio-economic factors that drive youngsters to crime.

A shocking RTI reveals that there was more than 39 per cent increase in crimes committed by juveniles in 2014 compared to 2013. This year too, 66 juveniles have been booked till now for different crimes. The crimes committed by minors mostly include theft, burglary and disrupting peace. 

The RTI further revealed that round 80 cases were reported against juveniles in 2014 compared  to 47 cases in 2013. In 2009, only 34 crimes were committed by accused under the age of 18 in Gurgaon, according to the data provided by the State Crime Record Bureau in Madhuban, Karnal under Local and Special Law (LSL) and Indian Penal Code (IPC).

According to a psychologist, deteriorating parent-child relationship, over-exposure of media, absence of love, negative minds and absence of values are behind the increase in juvenile crime rates. The psychologist suggests that minors should be judged on the basis of crime and not their age. 

Surprisingly, crimes committed by juveniles in Haryana had gone down between 2009 and 2014. Around 1,133 cases were reported against juveniles in 2009. The same declined to 1,041 in 2014. Sadly in Gurgaon it was just the reverse. However, as shocking as the statistics may be, it is important to remember that over the last five years (2010-2015) heinous crimes like rape and murder constitute only eight per cent of crimes by juveniles.

Till October 2015, 66 juveniles have been booked for different offences in Gurgaon. At least 17 have been booked for theft, eight for burglary, seven accused of disrupting peace, six booked for robbery, four under POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences) Act for raping a minor, four for kidnapping, four for robbery, two for murder, one for snatching and 13 have been booked for other petty crimes.

Even though the Gurgaon police had launched a new initiative called ‘Udaan’, an employment-linked skill training programme for under-privileged children, but the rising juvenile crime rates has left authorities in a bind.