Adilabad: Crimes against girls continue to go unabated even as police take stern action against perpetrators this year in both Mancherial and Nirmal districts.
According to data provided by the police, Mancherial district registered 45 offences against girls in 2024 under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act when compared to 40 crimes in 2023, indicating an increase by 12.5 percent. Nirmal district saw 26 crimes against the girls in this year as against 20 offences in 2023, posting a rise by 30 percent.
For instance, A 25-year-old man alcoholic allegedly raped a mentally unsound minor girl in his house after abducting her, drawing ire of her relatives who set his house on fire and assaulted him in Gudihathnoor mandal centre on December 21. The irate relatives pelted stones against police demanding them to hand him over to them, resulting in injuries to an inspector and sub-inspector.
On September 28, Bommena Sagar was apprehended for allegedly outraging modesty of a class VIII girl student under the pretext of marrying her at a village in Asifabad mandal. A case under Section 65 (1) of Bharat Nyaya Sanhita or POCSO Act was registered against Sagar from the village.
However, Adilabad and Kumram Bheem districts witnessed a declining trend. Adilabad accounted for 40 crimes against the girls when compared to 52 offences in 2023, showing a decline by 23 percent. Kumram Bheem Asifabad district registered 16 crimes in 2024 on girls as against 21 offences reported in previous year, reflecting a drop by 23 percent.
Ramagundam Commissioner of Police M Srinivasulu said that steps were being taken to ensure the accused persons were getting convicted by courts. He advised the victims to approach police through Dial 100 service and lodging complaints with local police. He said that members of SHE team were striving hard to eradicate sexual offences against girls.