In 2016, the city witnessed a steep rise in crime, including rapes and murders, being committed by juveniles, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.
Cases involving juvenile offenders have gone up by 20% compared to last year — 2,368 cases were reported in 2016 and 4,679 offenders were apprehended.
The city tops a list of 19 metropolitan cities in terms of criminal offences committed by juveniles, followed by Mumbai with 946 cases. In Delhi, these Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) allegedly committed 143 rapes and 35 unnatural offences.
They were also allegedly involved in 138 other sexual harassment crimes such as molestation, stalking and voyeurism.
In instances of heinous crime, 51 cases of murder and 81 cases of attempt to murder were registered against juveniles. The increasing involvement of juveniles in heinous crime has been a major cause of concern for the Delhi Police for the past few years.
The police said gang members use social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to lure unwitting teenagers into the 'gang lifestyle' with rap videos and promises of a glamorous life.
Social media
Additionally, gangs upload videos that feature older members handcuffed in police custody, counting money, doing drugs, and showing off firearms.
Such videos circulate on WhatsApp groups and regularly go viral among teenagers.
“The gangsters lodged in jail assign tasks to other gang members who are out on bail. The gang members then find a juvenile and lure him with lots of money and notoriety in his area. More brutality brings more fame for the juvenile among other gangs and he gets handpicked by other gangs for other assignments,” said a police official.
The juveniles also rely heavily on social media to earn respect and establish dominance in their locality. Many use Facebook to taunt rivals and initiate conflict.
Poor and illiterate
Sanjay Beniwal, Special Commissioner of Police (Airport, Women Safety and Modernisation), said that most of the juveniles who commit crimes come from lower-middle class segment.
“High school dropout percentage and increasing addiction to drugs are the major factors that lure them to commit crime for easy money. Apart from policing, to control the rise of crime in this segment, society should play a proactive role,” he said.
As per the NCRB, out of the total number of juveniles apprehended in 2016, 3,535 were school dropouts and 2,977 were living with their parents.
“The juveniles are fragile and they need a good environment around them. Parental care is immensely important. In many of the cases it was found that parental care was missing as both parents were daily-wage earners,” he added.
According to the amended Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, juveniles between 16 and 18 years of age accused of heinous crimes can be tried under the Indian Penal Code based on the juvenile court's assessment.
Heinous crimes include rape, murder, dacoity and acid attacks. These cases carry jail terms of seven years or more.
Skill development courses
Meanwhile, on the direction of the Juvenile Justice Committee, the Delhi Police and the Delhi government with the National Skill Development Corporation, have initiated job-oriented skill development training programs in juvenile homes at Majnu Ka Tila and Kingsway camp.
“A skill training program has been initiated at place of safety for juveniles. They are getting training in making food and beverages, and mobile technician courses. They will get placement after they come out of the observation homes. The program was initiated with the help of the Delhi government,” said Mr. Beniwal.
He added that the Special Police Unit for Women and Children has taken various initiatives for welfare of juveniles. “It needs collective efforts from all other concerned departments to keep CCL in the mainstream,” Mr. Beniwal said.
