Srinagar, May 26 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir reported 887 cases of crimes against children in 2024, registering a marginal decline from 910 cases in 2023 and 920 cases in 2022, according to the latest “Crime in India 2024” report issued by the National Crime Records Bureau.
According to the report, published under Chapter 4A — “Crime Against Children (States & UTs)”, the Union Territory recorded a crime rate of 18.1 cases per lakh child population during 2024.
Kidnapping and abduction remained the most reported offences against children in Jammu and Kashmir, with 243 cases registered during the year, the report accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reveals.
Cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act also formed a major share of the crimes reported against children. The NCRB recorded 308 POCSO cases in 2024, including 228 cases under Sections 4 and 6 related to penetrative sexual assault, and 65 cases under Sections 8 and 10 pertaining to sexual assault.
The report further revealed that seven cases were registered under Section 12 of the Act relating to sexual harassment of children, while five cases were recorded under Sections 14 and 15 involving the use of children for pornographic purposes. Three additional cases were registered under Sections 17 to 22 concerning abetment and other offences under the Act.
Besides cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Jammu and Kashmir also reported nine rape cases involving minors in 2024, including seven cases registered under the IPC and two under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities also recorded three cases of assault on minors with intent to outrage modesty during the year.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau report, the Union Territory further witnessed eight cases related to the kidnapping or abduction of girls for forced marriage, four cases linked to foeticide, and eight incidents of infanticide and allied offences in 2024.
The report stated that a total of 1,339 cases of crimes against children remained under police investigation in Jammu and Kashmir during the year. This figure comprised 449 cases carried forward from previous years, 887 newly registered cases, and three reopened investigations.
Police completed investigation or disposal in 802 cases during 2024, while 537 cases continued to remain pending by the end of the year, pushing the pendency rate to 40.1 per cent.
The NCRB data further revealed that investigating agencies filed charge-sheets in 444 cases, leading to a charge-sheeting rate of 55.4 per cent. Meanwhile, 358 cases were closed under various final report categories, and investigation in seven cases remained stayed.
On the judicial front, 2,661 cases related to crimes against children were pending before courts in Jammu and Kashmir during 2024. These included 2,217 cases pending from earlier years and 444 new cases committed to trial during the year.
During court proceedings in 2024, convictions were secured in 12 cases, while four cases ended in discharge, and 112 cases resulted in acquittal. Additionally, 16 cases were disposed of by courts without trial, the report added—(KNO)