Bengaluru Police set to achieve higher conviction rate in POCSO cases

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The city police have achieved a 50% conviction rate in trials completed in January 2024.

The trials in 1,306 cases were completed in city courts during the month, of which 762 cases have ended in conviction, city police said.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, Police Commissioner B Dayananda said the conviction rate was commendable and efforts were on to improve it further.

Out of the 762 cases that ended in conviction, Dayananda said in four cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the courts gave a maximum punishment of 20 years jail term.

These cases were registered in 2017, 2020 and 2022. In four cases, the accused have been awarded 14 years to 20 years jail term, while in two cases, they have been sentenced to one-year imprisonment.

In three cases, the accused have been sentenced to less than one year, and 845 accused in 753 cases have been slapped with a fine as part of the conviction.

The city police have launched a special drive to probe Long Pending Report cases and cracked 13 such cases in January, including a POCSO Act case.

A murder case reported in 1993 was also cracked. Report shows Bengaluru tops the list in POCSO cases Karnataka over the past three years has raised concerns, with a staggering 9,862 cases registered between 2021 and 2023.

Despite the implementation of numerous government schemes aimed at safeguarding children and preventing sexual offenses, the persisting occurrence of cases involving sexual violence and child marriages underscores the need for swift and effective judicial responses.

The state crime department records reveal that Bengaluru tops the list in POCSO cases, registering 1,454 cases over the threeyear period. In contrast, Belagavi and Kalaburagi reported the lowest numbers, each recording 79 cases.

Additionally, 129 cases were deemed false, while 257 cases were transferred to various stations for investigation. Eight cases were resolved through negotiations. Child Right Trust Executive Director, Vasudev Sharma, said that gradual shift in reporting has given rise to the number of recorded cases.

"Until the POCSO Act came into effect in 2012, people were hesitant to file a complaint at the police station due to fear. Now, with increased awareness, parents and affected children are more inclined to approach the police. However, the pace of convicting the accused remains sluggish," he said.

Shasidhara Kosambe, a member of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, emphasised the critical need for expedited investigations and punishment to curb sexual violence against children.

He acknowledged the protracted legal process, noting that while the rule of law mandates completion within one year, investigations and court hearings often extend for two to three years.

In order to create awareness, the School Education department had recently directed all schools across the state to conduct "Open House" to create awareness about the POCSO Act and Child Protection Policy, 2016, and to involve various stakeholders in the exercise.