Nasir Azam
Srinagar : As many as 182 cases were registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCS0) in Jammu & Kashmir during 2019, official details revealed.
A document in possession of news agency- Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reveals that 182 cases were registered under the law last year in Jammu and Kashmir.
These details were submitted by an official of Home department to a team of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) which visited J&K on March 11-12.
“Representative from Department of Home stated that during the year 2019, a total of 182 cases related to POCSO were registered in the UT which included seven from previous years,” reads the report.
According to the report, charge-sheet was prepared in 129 cases and 42 were under investigation.
“11 cases were not covered under POCSO and accused were acquitted in 5 cases,” it further states.
In 2018, PDP-BJP government enacted The Jammu and Kashmir Protection of Children from Sexual Violence. Ordinance to deal with sexual crimes against children.
The law was similar to POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) which was applicable to other states and Union Territories.
From October 31, 2019, the central POCSO became applicable to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories after BJP-led central government abrogated Article 370 and re-organised the erstwhile state.
The law was enacted to protect the children against offences like sexual abuse, sexual harassment and pornography—(KNO)
