Growth in juvenile crimes raises concern in Mumbai

Juvenile crimes in Mumbai registered a 15 percent increase in 2013 compared to 2012, with an average of two cases lodged daily, an activist said here Monday.

Right to Information (RTI) activist Anil Galgali said that in the first 10 months of 2013, 802 juveniles were booked for various serious and minor offences ranging from rape, sexual harassment, molestation, burglary, thefts and grievous hurt.

The details were provided by Mumbai Police Assistant Commissioner (Crime Branch) Bhagwan Chate in an RTI query filed by Galgali concerning juvenile (aged under 18) crimes.

While juvenile crimes numbered 700 in 2012 and 766 in 2011, the figure shot up sharply by 15 percent between January and October in 2013, he said.

Police said that in 2013, there were cases of 28 rapes, 45 molestations, 15 kidnappings and abductions, 10 sexual harassment, 239 grievous hurt, 179 thefts and 81 burglaries involving juveniles.

Galgali said police had no records on the number of juvenile criminals convicted by courts.

"It is a matter of concern and could be one of the reasons why juvenile crimes are on the rise daily with the law-enforcers unable to control it," Galgali said.

Galgali feels that if the data on juvenile convictions was also available, it would be easy for police to keep a watch on such criminals and gradually control crimes involving juveniles.