For third year in a row, State tops tally of maximum child murders

This disturbing trend has exposed the dark underbelly of progressive state like Maharashtra where tiny tots are exposed to violence. 

Age group 0-10 yrs

              Maharashtra   Uttar Pradesh   Tamil Nadu

2012 159                 114                     59

2011 141                  96                     63

2010 169                 138                      90

By Dheeraj Fartode

Maharashtra may be leading State and a torch bearer of progressive ideas, many of which got adopted at national level. But beneath the sheen lies a dark underbelly, the rising graph of crime against children. In fact Maharashtra has put behind even populous Uttar Pradesh when it comes to murders of children in age group of 0-10 years. Largely forgotten the death of children in violent manner is off late a cause of concern, admitted top officials of Maharashtra Police.
A cursory glance at crime data reveals that in year 2012 the State witnessed 159 cases of murders wherein the victim was children in 0-10 age group. For the same year, Uttar Pradesh with far more geographical area and even vast population, the number of registered cases was about 114 cases, closely following Maharashtra.
As per the data of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), maximum number of murders of children between age 0 and 10 years was registered in Maharashtra. The phenomenon is same since past three years. In 2010, Maharashtra saw 169 cases but the next year i.e. in 2011 there was drop but still the reported cases were 141 that gave State the dubious distinction of leading this tally. However again in 2012 there was a 12 per cent hike in child murders and 159 cases were registered.
In Uttar Pradesh that follows Maharashtra in terms of crime against children, they recorded 114 cases in 2012, 96 cases in 2011 and 138 cases in 2010. This is quite surprising since in all other heads in Indian Penal Code, Uttar Pradesh is far ahead of Maharashtra. However, for children UP seems safe than Maharashtra, as far as crime statistics is concerned.
In Tamil Nadu, which stood third rank in 2010 there were 90 cases and the next year it went down to just 63 cases in 2011 and further down to 59 cases in 2012.
Additional Director General (ADG) of Crime Investigation Department (CID) S P Yadav told ‘The Hitavada’ that 175 children including 72 girls and 103 boys were murdered in 2012. In age group of 10 years to 15 years, 17 girls and 10 boys were killed. And, in age group of 15 years to 18 years, 24 girls and 12 boys were murdered in 2012.
Age group of 0 years to 10 years is the worst affected age group revealed CID’s study, the ADG averred. In 28 cases, mother first killed her child and then committed suicide along with the children. This phenomenon was witnessed across the State and parents were accused in murder of the their wards. The figures are quite shocking since parents are considered first line of defence for child.
The second reason for murder of children was suspicion that the child is born out of illicit relationship. Hence 10 such cases were registered in the state in 2012, he informed.
Four cases of kidnapping were also registered in specially urban areas. Dozen other of domestic violence and eight cases of female foeticide were registered in state, Yadav said while giving break-up of crime against children in State.

Poor economic condition a major factor 

Superintendent of Police (SP) Jalandhar Supekar with CID Headquarters who did research on the crime against children told ‘The Hitavada’ that it was found that economic background of the victims played an important role. About 90 per cent victims belonged to lower income group. In 82 cases, parents were daily wage workers and in 52 cases parents are farm hands. Illiteracy was also found to be a major factor in crime against children.