The Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police, S Selvanagarathinam attributed the high number of POCSO cases to lack of parental supervision over children in Coimbatore district:
Coimbatore: At a media briefing held at the Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police office in Coimbatore, the District Superintendent of Police, S Selvanagarathinam announced that a training camp for women police officers on behalf of the Coimbatore District Police is being held to deal with cases registered to investigate complaints of possible crimes against women and children in the Coimbatore district.
"We have divided thecase recorded in the last three and a half years into three sections:
1. Cases of 12-18-year old girls getting married without the knowledge of their parents - 73
2. Cases of sexual offences against girls by known men - 32
3. Child marriage arranged by parents POCSO case - 50
Other POCSO cases include shooting pornographic photos - 50
We are engaged in a massive awareness campaign as a measure to reduce this. For the past one week, we have been conducting more awareness camps for school administration and child care homes.
We are also planning to conduct more online awareness camps. The school administration should also cooperate in this initiative. Parents should also monitor their children's activities. Complaints on child marriage must be reported. We plan to take action under the Goondas Act against all those arrested in the POCSO case (under known members section)," added S Selvanagarathinam.
He further added, "Of the quarries surveyed, only 142 licensed quarries are in operation. We are imposing fines on trucks carrying heavy loads. The CCTV alarm program is nearing completion. Under POCSO, 7 cases have been reported in Thudiyalur, 7 in Mettupalayam, 5 in Thadagam, Annur, 7 in Komangam, 5 in Anaimalai, Karumathampatti, Sulur, Vadavalli and Periyanaickenpalayam. The special unit is set up to investigate theft incidents.
We are registering drug cases daily. Action under Goondas act is also being taken. Coimbatore has 6 divisions and only 3 divisions have an all women police station. So we have requested for setting up of all women police stations in the remaining divisions. 115 POCSO cases have been reported in the last one and a half years. POCSO has increased during pandemic lockdown. The main reason for this is the lack of parental supervision. Parents should monitor their children with great care. Teachers will also participate in online awareness. Five officials have been suspended for committing offences in the Police Department too, this past one year."