Many child abuse cases unreported

Two days ago, the Ernakulam Rural Police arrested a 40-year-old man on charges of aggravated assaults on his 10-year-old son.

Johnson of Njarakkal in Vypeen island was arrested on a complaint lodged by Childline Kochi against the alleged continuous mental and physical abuse of the child. Police say Johnson has a serious behavioural problem and used to take revenge on his estranged wife by beating their son black and blue very often.

“He used to pour hot water on the child whenever he slept, besides dipping the boy’s head in water. There were also instances of Johnson rubbing stinging ants all over the boy’s body,” they said, in a shocking tell-tale of the experiences the youngster had to undergo in the last couple of years.

The story of the boy, who is currently sheltered at a rescue home near Angamaly, is just the latest in a string of violent crimes against children, according to Childline activists. “We have been receiving complaints of violence against children. It is a good sign that people are coming out to report the offences but equally worrying is the fact that the number of cases is on the rise,” Childline Kochi coordinator Nirish Antony said.

Depressing figures

Statistics corroborates the statement. The agency made interventions in 1,185 cases from April 2015 to April 2016, as against 877 from April 2014 to April 2015, and 759 during the same period the previous year. Of the total cases registered last year, victims in around 283 cases were taken to the Child Welfare Committee, while FIRs were filed in 154 cases.

The interventions also included cases of child sex abuse, which rose from 53 in 2013-14 to 68 last year and reached 95 this year.

An officer with the Kochi city police said several cases went unreported. In some cases, the police find it tough to convince the guardians to file a complaint, he added.