Rural areas witness surge in Pocso cases

Thiruvananthapuram: There has been a surge in the Pocso cases being registered from the rural areas of the district over the last couple of years. The figures are double than the number of cases registered in any other police districts. Till May 31 this year, 156 cases have been registered in Thiruvananthapuram rural. From 244 Pocso cases registered in 2020, it increased to 319 in 2021. These figures are double the number of cases registered in Thiruvananthapuram city and other police districts in the respective years.
In Thiruvananthapuram city, 71 Pocso cases were registered this year against 156 cases in the rural area. In the city, the number of cases were only 114 and 117 in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

As many as 227 cases were registered in the entire Thiruvananthapuram district, including the city and rural areas. Only Malappuram, rural and city, recorded more cases than Thiruvananthapuram rural with 186 cases, as per the data available from the district crime records bureau (DCRB).
“Usage of drugs and alcohol among the rural folks is high and it might be a reason for this increase in cases in rural areas. Lack of awareness on sexual offences against children could be another reason. We can only assume so as it does not have the backing of any proper study. The state government must come forward to hold a proper study to find out the exact cause behind it,” said Sandhya J, a child rights activist.
However, a top police officer said that 20% of the Pocso cases registered are not genuine and hence an increase in the case is being reported from this area.
“The number of colonies in the rural areas of the district is higher when compared to other parts of the state. The people in these colonies are not aware of the consequence of sexual violence against children and many among them are addicted to various drugs. Most of the Pocso cases registered are from Palode, Vithura and some villages in the borders of the state,” said the officer.
There is a need for increasing awareness among the people here to bring down Pocso cases, he added.