PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The chairperson of the Uttarakhand State Commission for Women (USCW), Kusum Kandwal urged the people to closely monitor their children in view of increasing cases of molestation and abduction of minors.
Kandwal said that she is concerned with the recent alleged rape case of a minor girl in Rishikesh and the missing of a minor from her home in Raiwala. “As soon as I was informed about the rape incident, I went out to meet the survivor’s family. The councillor Surendra Singh Negi accompanied me. The family members said that the minor had been lured by the accused through Instagram,” she said.
Notably, Rishikesh police had arrested two young men under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and later they were sent to jail following the court’s orders.
“I also spoke with the SP (Rural) Jaya Baluni and instructed her to initiate a thorough verification and investigation of outsiders residing in rural areas of Rishikesh,” she said.
Commenting on the Raiwala minor missing case, she said that she had directed the SP (Rural) Jaya Baluni and the SO, Doiwala to take action against the accused and ensure the minor’s safety.
Considering such cases, Kandwal appealed to the people to keep a close eye on their children, emphasising that minors are vulnerable and can be easily influenced by individuals with criminal intentions. “The parents should be aware of their children’s social media interactions, friendships and contacts. Besides, they ought to educate the children about how to distinguish good touch from bad touch. They cannot shirk their responsibility of keeping their girls out of the harm’s way,” she observed.
