Kerala forms Special Task Force to probe rise in POCSO cases in Palakkad
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Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Tuesday ordered the formation of a high-level Special Task Force headed by Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police Poonkuzhali to investigate the comparatively high number of cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in certain police station limits of Palakkad district over the past few years.
The decision was taken by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who directed the Home Department to constitute the task force within three days and ensure that it submits a comprehensive report to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) within three months.
According to the government order, the inquiry will focus on the police station jurisdictions of Walayar, Kollengode, Meenakshipuram and Kozhinjampara, where the number of POCSO cases has remained comparatively higher than in several other parts of the district, raising concerns about the underlying social and environmental factors contributing to the trend.
The task force will comprise senior police officers along with representatives from the District Janajagaran Samithi, the District Women's Cell, Sakhi, the District Child Welfare Office and various women's organisations.
It has been tasked with examining not only the pattern of offences but also the wider social circumstances that may be exposing children in these areas to greater risks.
The government's decision follows recommendations made by the Estimates Committee of the 10th Kerala Legislative Assembly, which had called for a dedicated study into the reasons behind the concentration of POCSO cases in these regions and recommended the formation of a multidisciplinary committee to suggest preventive measures.
One of the key areas of investigation will be the impact of the digital era on children. The task force has been asked to examine how the widespread use of smartphones and other digital devices has influenced children's behaviour, emotional responses, psychological well-being and interpersonal relationships.
It will also study whether children from different socio-economic backgrounds are affected differently by increased digital exposure and whether these changes have made them more vulnerable to exploitation.
The inquiry will further assess the unique social conditions in localities such as Walayar, which is located close to industrial clusters. In many families in these areas, both parents leave home for work, often leaving children without adequate adult supervision for long hours.
The task force will examine whether such circumstances, combined with increasing dependence on digital devices, have altered children's lifestyles and contributed to a higher risk of sexual abuse.
With IANS inputs