Sambalpur: Child Sexual Abuse is on the rise in Sambalpur city, Highest during the Covid Period
Sambalpur: An English teacher of a Kendriya Vidyalaya No-1 in Sambalpur, Arun Joshi (54) sexually assaulted a class nine student, which has become a hot topic after it came to light. Although the accused Arun has been sent to jail after the school principal complained about this, after the incident came out, the parents were worried about this. In Sambalpur district, it is seen that the cases of sexual harassment against minors are increasing. This is a report of the highest number of cases during the Covid period in the district.
According to the available data, the highest number of child sexual abuse cases were reported in Sambalpur district in 2021 after the outbreak of COVID-19. Classes were held online that year, and there were restrictions on outbound travel. Among these cases of child sexual abuse were increasing. In 2021, 101 cases of the POCSO Act were registered in Sambalpur district. After the POCSO Act became stricter, the highest number was 80 cases in Sambalpur district in 2019 and 2020. In 2022, it decreased slightly to about 70. By the end of September this year, the number of cases has reached 42 which has become a cause of concern for everyone. Sambalpur Police has arrested a total of 53 people in the POCSO Act this year, including 7 minors. Apart from 7 minors, out of 46 people arrested, a maximum of 39 accused are between 18 and 30 years old. Similarly, there are 4 accused between 31 and 50 years of age, while 3 of them are over 50 years of age.
The Sasan police station has arrested 6 people, Rengali 6 people, Bareipali and Charmal police 5 people each, Burla 4 people, Dhama, Jamankira, and Ainthapali police 3 people each, Dhunupali, Katarbaga, Kuchinda 2 each and Sadar police station, Kisinda, Jujumura, Gobindpur, Hirakud, Mahulpali, Naktideul, Redhakhol, Thelkoloi, and Town police stations have arrested 1 accused each. In 2012, the government introduced a special POCSO Act because of the increasing number of sexual crimes against minors. In 2019, its provisions were further tightened and revised. Under this, there is a strict action system in the cases of sexual crimes and abuse of minors. The Act protects children from serious crimes such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, and abuse. According to this law, if a case is registered against someone, there is a system of immediate arrest. Police cannot grant bail to the accused in this case. The police will first arrest the accused, then there is a procedure to investigate the case.
