New Delhi: On an average, five people were arrested daily in the city this year for allegedly sexually assaulting or abusing minors, with four cases registered each day under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso).Investigation revealed that in most instances, the accused were known to the survivors, often being family members or neighbours. Police also noted that some families hesitated to cooperate for fear of social stigma or due to familiarity with the accused.According to Delhi Police data, till May this year, 543 cases were registered, resulting in 697 arrests. Of these, 508 cases were solved. The incidents involved various forms of abuse, including rape, molestation and eve-teasing.Police reported that the perpetrators used deceptive tactics to gain the trust of their targets, often luring them under some pretext. In some cases, they took the minors to other locations under false pretences, where the assaults occurred.“The accused either lived with the survivor’s families or were well known to them, granting easy access to their homes and personal spaces,” an officer said, adding that this familiarity allowed the accused to exploit the minors without immediately raising suspicion.According to officers, investigations become particularly challenging when the survivor is very young. Children over 10 years old can provide statements directly, but for those aged four or five, police must rely on their mothers to communicate details. “Sometimes there is a language barrier, so we use interpreters,” the officer said.A major challenge arises when families withdraw complaints after reporting a crime, often due to social stigma, concerns about perceived “honour”, or because the accused is a relative. “Family members often pressure the survivor to retract the complaint in such cases,” another officer said, adding that this usually complicates efforts to secure conviction.The officer suggested that some accused suffer from psychological illnesses, which may contribute to their involvement in such crimes.Police also noted that minors are also vulnerable on social media. “There are cases where unknown individuals befriend children online and obtain private pictures or videos through deceit or manipulation. These children are then subjected to sexual harassment through blackmail,” the officer said.To combat harassment and eve-teasing in public spaces, Delhi Police have launched targeted initiatives such as ‘Shishtachar Squad’.According to Dr Rajiv Mehta, senior consultant psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, children are targeted due to several reasons. “Firstly, they are not physically strong. Secondly, fear can be easily instilled in them. Thirdly, they can be lured easily and often do not understand what is happening. In some cases, the accused even tell them that they are just playing games,” he said.“Parents should teach children about good and bad touch, and after an incident, they must take action against the perpetrators — even if the person is known to them or from within the family. They should not prioritise saving the family’s ‘pride’, because such incidents can have a long-term impact on the child,” he added.
