MARGAO: Within a month, the Salcete taluka, comprising 66 villages, witnessed a disturbing surge in child abuse cases, including molestation, kidnapping and rape. This alarming trend has left the general public, particularly parents, deeply concerned.
These cases of child sexual abuse are typically registered under Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Goa Children’s Act, casting a dark shadow over Salcete’s villages. Of particular concern is a reported incident involving the molestation of students by a physical education (PE) teacher, which has sent shockwaves through the community.
A senior police officer noted that in many of such cases, the perpetrators are known to the victims. In some instances, families, aware of the abuse, hesitate to report it. Some victims, gripped by fear, initially keep their ordeals hidden from their parents but later confide in them.
The police have struggled to identify the root causes of these cases under the POCSO Act, but investigating officers believe that victims’ reluctance to seek police assistance contributes to the issue.
In one instance, the Maina Curtorim Police registered an offence against an individual accused of molesting a minor girl from a Salcete village. The incident occurred while the girl and her mother were visiting relatives, and the accused was present. The police acted on the complaint lodged by the victim’s mother, invoking Sections 354A of the IPC, Section 8 of the Goa Children’s Act, and the POCSO Act.
In another incident, the Margao Police registered an offence against a secondary school teacher for allegedly raping a student from a village in Salcete. The victim’s complaint led to the filing of charges under Sections 376, 354 and 8 of the Goa Children Act, and the POCSO Act.
In a separate case, a 21-year-old youth from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, who had been evading Cuncolim Police after kidnapping a student, was apprehended in Delhi after four-and-a-half months. He faced charges under Section 363 of the IPC and Section 8(2) of the Goa Children’s Act for abducting the victim girl from her family’s rented room without consent.
The Margao Town Police took action against a 77-year-old doctor who was accused of molesting a 26-year-old woman, invoking Section 354A of the IPC. This doctor had been practicing in the town for several years.
Additionally, a 70-year-old person from Sucaldem-Chinchinim allegedly molested a 37-year-old woman while pretending to deliver milk cartons to her house. The Cuncolim Police registered an offence under Sections 354 and 500 of the IPC, pending investigation.
Another distressing case came to light as a Physical Education (PE) teacher from a Government High School in Fatorpa was arrested by Cuncolim Police for allegedly molesting a minor student. The school headmistress reported the incident, leading to charges under various sections, including 354A and 509 IPC, Section 8 of the Goa Children’s Act, Section 12 of the POCSO Act, and Sections 67 and 67(A) of the Information Technology Act 2000.
The authorities observed that some of these child sex abuse cases involve individuals from lower-income backgrounds. Still, they believe that cases of molestation and child abuse within the middle class and upper middle class often go unreported, as families fear tarnishing their reputation.
Children between the ages of 7 and 16 are seen as more vulnerable due to their limited ability to speak up about abuse. Advocates and officials emphasise the need for parental and teacher education, with awareness programmes conducted in schools and colleges. While the State mandates counsellors for schools, the implementation has been inconsistent, especially in private schools due to various challenges.
Punishments for molestation under Section 354 of the IPC range from rigorous imprisonment up to three years, fines, or both. These offences encompass physical contact, making sexual remarks, displaying pornography, and other related actions.
