In Andhra Pradesh in 59 rape cases Juveniles are named accused: Juvenile delinquency is increasing

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

State has recorded 59 rape cases in which Juveniles are accused during 

last year according to National Crime Records Bureau. The records project an alarming figures as State stood fourth in juvenile delinquency (crimes committed by children below 18 years) after Madhya Pradesh, Maharasthra and Chattisgarh with a total number 1837 cases including 59 rapes. Most of the juveniles involved in rape cases are between 16 to 18 years. Thefts, burglaries comprise majority of the crimes committed by them.Experts say that there shall be a serious thought to be given on the juvenile delinquency and on reducing the age limit case by case.Former Union Home Secretary Mr K Padmanabhaiah,” if it is a simple crime like status crime no need to worry. We have to take grave crimes like rapes and murders seriously. The punishment and reduction of age limit for juvenile shall be case specific. In heinous crimes like in United States the courts has to be given power to give the waiver,”A study by forensic doctors “A medico legal survey of juvenile crimes in Rayalaseema zone of Andhra Pradesh' published in International Journal of Biological and Medical Research says ,”The age group if juvenile offenders in this zone is between 13 to 18 years which represent 95 per cent of total juvenile offenders in the juvenile homes. The most involved in the crime is 17 years which is around 26 per cent.  There are only three of them in the age group below 12 years,”In the study Dr T V Nagaraja and Dr T Sai Sudheer of Kurnool Medical College says ,”most of the juveniles in this study are the school dropouts and main reason for leaving the school is the lack of interest in the school activities.  Most of them are working as daily wage coolies and involved in construction work and hotel boys. Most of the juvenile offenders were in the habit of smoking tobacco. The most common crime was theft and robbery around 70 per cent. Parental neglect amounts to 14 per cent of juvenile delinquency in the Rayalaseema zone.,”They added,”the home is fertile breeding ground for violent behaviour. Children who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to abuse others as they grow older. Community, friends, neighbours and peers also play role. The study involves inmates of juvenile homes in Tirupati, Ananthapur and Kurnool of Rayalaseema zone,”