Rising crime by juveniles a new headache for Delhi Police

Rising juvenile delinquency has come as a major challenge for the Delhi Police. In the recent past, several minors were found involved in heinous crimes, including rape and sexual assault.

A month ago, a teen couple, semi-professional choreographers, were nabbed for allegedly kidnapping a schoolboy and then killing him in Uttarakhand’s Ranikhet. The minor accused planned the crime to earn Rs 60,000, which they needed to participate in a TV dance reality show.

The December 16 gang rape triggered a debate over the legal age for juveniles in conflict with law. (Mohd Zakir/HT File Photo)

On Monday, another juvenile was apprehended for allegedly killing two men in 48 hours as part of an alleged ritual that a fake ‘godman’ had directed him to follow. The minor ‘sacrificed’ his victims to earn name and fame, as per the method suggested by a ‘holy man’ in his dreams.

Rising juvenile delinquency has come as a major challenge for the Delhi Police. In the recent past, several minors were found involved in heinous crimes, including rape and sexual assault, as demands for amending the juvenile justice act got louder.

“Our studies on crimes committed by juveniles have shown that they were committed for achieving petty objectives like quick and easy money, issues related to friendship with the opposite sex, fulfilling aspirations of earning name or leading a lavish lifestyle. About 30% to 40% of the first timers were juveniles,” said a senior police officer, adding several social and economical factors force teenagers to enter the crime world.

Last week, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal vouched for bringing the juvenile age to 15 years following a brutal gang-rape case in Nihal Vihar in which two juveniles allegedly assaulted a 2-year-old girl. Delhi Police chief BS Bassi, in an exclusive interview with HT, also said that he was in favour of bringing down the juvenile age to 16.

“Apart from the classical crime handling approach by police, government organs should also come forward with certain initiatives to control the rising trend of crimes by juveniles,” said Deependra Pathak, joint CP (SW range).