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In Kerala, only 8.7% accused are convicted in child abuse cases

  • Of the 2, 093 cases only 387 were presented in court
  • Conviction rate was as low as 8.7%
  • Highest number of cases were registered from Kozhikode district
     
Kerala 8 percent accused convicted child abuse cases

The data of crimes against children are on the rise in Kerala, but not much is being done to bring the situation under control. Statistics reveal that the conviction rate in child abuse cases in Kerala is as low as 8.7%. 
 

The records from special courts dealing with child abuse cases show that the accused were convicted only in five cases of the 124 cases registered in Kozhikode district. 
 

In 2016, as many as 2, 093 cases of child abuse was booked under POCSO Act, but only 387 cases came to court.  Of them accused were convicted only in 34 cases, while the offender got an acquittal in 301 cases. 
 

"There were 396 cases including 322 girls and 74 boys. At times there were multiple victims in a single case. Of the total cases, 40 were quashed by the upper court either because the accused were absconding or victims were not alive," child rights advocate Soumya Bhaumik said. 
 

The highest number of cases were reported from Kozhikode and of the 124 cases, accused were set free in 114 cases while in two incidents offenders were partially acquitted. 
 

Of the 63 cases registered in Wayanad, there were 14 convictions while offenders got an acquittal in 48 cases. As many as 60 cases were booked from Malappuram, and 41 of them saw acquittal while accused got punishment in four cases. There were 37 cases reported from the capital city, but there were only five convictions while in 29 cases accused were released by the court and one case was quashed. 
 

In several cases, accused persons are relatives or friends of the family, who are supposed to protect the children. Fathers were named accused in 27 cases while step-fathers were the accused in seven other cases. Teachers also topped the list with 17 cases. In a single case from Wayanad, 12 girls had complained about abuse by a teacher, but the court let him go free. In another case from Thrissur child had died of abuse but the court acquitted the offender. 
 

Roughly, over 4, 000 cases of sexual abuse of children are pending in various courts in Kerala since 2012, and hardly 10% cases were disposed of. Of the 3, 500 cases filed between November 2012 and December 2015, only 7.07% cases were disposed of counting to 261. The number of pending cases has gone up since December 2015, Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Shobha Koshy said. 
 

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