Informers prefer 1098 to report abuse: Report

Kochi: An analysis of child sexual abuse (CSA) cases reported in 2018 by Childline showed that Wayanad and Kasaragod units accounted for over 50% of the total cases.

Kerala police registered 3,366 cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act from April 2018 to March 2019. Malappuram was ranked first with 455 Pocso cases, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (400) and Ernakulam (304).

In Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kollam, the Pocso cases ranged from 250 to 275. Alappuzha, Kasaragod and Kottayam reported over 150 such cases while Wayanad, Idukki and Pathanamthitta figures were below 140. Railway police and CB-CID registered 7 Pocso cases.

The information about sexual abuse is often shared on the helpline 1098 while police rely on informants to register cases. Childline received over one-third of its Pocso cases on the helpline in 2018. The district-wise data on CSA reports, Childline intervention units in Thiruvananthapuram registered the maximum number of cases, followed Malappuram.

Many informants replied that the helpline was more convenient as it protected their identity minus the legal proceedings that come with seeking police help. Another view was that sometimes information was received from a third party or it was vague and incomplete and informants shared the same to 1098 to convey their perceptions.

Under the CSA category, around 519 cases were sexual assaults and 271 were penetrative sexual assaults. Neighbours and relatives were the worst offenders, followed by lovers and teachers. One key data was that in over 600 cases, abuse happened in the child’s own home.

The helpline has become a known number and it is reflected in the number of reported cases. Most cases (639) were reported within a week of abuse occurrence. The next instance of abuse and reporting of the same had a time gap of one-two months and 309 cases were reported under this category. However, there are cases that have been reported after a year.