This story is from July 10, 2014

Children at risk: Murder, rape, abduction on rise

There has been a spurt in rape, murder and abduction cases of children in the last couple of years.
Children at risk: Murder, rape, abduction on rise
BHUBANESWAR: There has been a spurt in rape, murder and abduction cases of children in the last couple of years. While 418 cases relating to crime against children were reported in 2012, it jumped to 1,123 last year, according to latest findings of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Altogether 509 minor girls were raped in Odisha last year as against 192 in 2012.
Rape of a minor girl, who later committed suicide at Rayagada in January 2013; the rape and brutal murder of a visually-challenged schoolgirl at Puri in June; rape and murder of a schoolgirl at Mahakalpada in Kendrapada district in November amply corroborate NCRB's shocking report.
Crimes against children were recorded in Bhubaneswar too. Rape and murder of a minor girl at Salia Sahi on August 20 last year rocked the city, though the accused was arrested the same day. On November 20, police arrested a man in connection with the molestation and attempt to murder of a four-year-old girl at Chandaka. Similarly, Mahila police on October 25 arrested a 14-year-old boy for allegedly raping a six-year-old girl at Mancheswar on October 21.
NCRB report said 28 children were murdered last year as against 25 in 2012 in the state. While five minor girls were forced to have illicit relation with men in 2012, the figure soared to 79 in 2013, the NCRB data said.
Police have arrested 1,034 people in connection with different crimes against children last year out of which 980 accused were charged.
However, conviction rate was pretty low if the NCRB data is any indication. In 2012, altogether 1,243 cases were listed for trial out of which only 13 ended in conviction. Last year, 1,903 cases were listed for trial in which conviction was possible in 31 cases.
"In many cases, the accused got a clean chit in court due to poor investigation by police. In some cases, victims and their families turn hostile, leading to acquittal," said Anuradha Mohanty, a child rights campaigner. "The government should strengthen Mahila and Sishu desks in police stations and improve infrastructure in courts to expedite trials," she added.
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