Committee on Nithari killings submits its report to Smt Renuka Chowdhury
RECOMMENDS VARIOUS MEASURES TO PROTECT CHILDREN
The Committee constituted to investigate into allegations of large scale sexual abuse, rape and murder of children in Nithari village of NOIDA (UP) submitted its Report to the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Renuka Chowdhury here today. Smt. Manjula Krishnan, Chairperson of the Committee, presented the Report to the Minister this evening. The Committee was constituted on 3rd of this month and was asked to submit its report within a fortnight.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has the mandate for the welfare, protection, safety, development and empowerment of women and children in the country. Accordingly, incidents involving child abuse, violence and trafficking and kidnapping of young children are a matter of concern and do need to be taken cognizance of on a priority basis. It is in this context that Smt. Renuka Chowdhury directed to constitute a Committee to investigate into allegations of large scale sexual abuse, rape and murder of children in Nithari and give suggestions and recommendations for ensuring that such cases do not recur.
The Committee made two visits to Nithari and Noida and held discussions with officials of the District Administration to understand the status and background of the crime. The Committee also met the families of the victims, local residents as well as Chief Medical Superintendent, NOIDA.
The Committee observed that the modus operandi and the motive of the crimes are not still clear and there is need to investigate these crimes from different perspectives and angles which include organ trade, sexual exploitation and other forms of crimes against the children. In view of the fact that CBI investigation is discovering more new bodies spread over a larger area, involvement of other persons other than those accused as well a larger geographical spread also needs to be investigated. Another factor that was observed was that the identification of the victims was based only on the confessions of the accused persons and therefore further investigation is needed to confirm the initial findings.
The Committee has also observed that administration and police apathy and indifference to the reports of missing children made by parents/guardians was evident. It is surprising that even though the reports of a number of children missing came from just one locality, the police did not take sufficient action for recovering these children. The Committee has also observed that the victims’ families did not receive any support or cooperation from the administration or the community until very recently when the crimes got nation wide publicity.
It was felt that reporting and investigating of cases of children missing are not given necessary priority especially from poor families. The committee suggested many remedial and preventive measures which include issue of instructions by State Governments for registering all complaints of missing children as crimes and accordingly taking investigative action; regular monitoring of daily diary register maintained by the Police Stations by higher authorities; tracking of missing children through web-based and other intra and inter State networking linkages; training and sensitization programs for police personnel on child and gender issues; developing a Protocol which delineates the methodology and steps for registering complaints of missing children, investigation, recovery, reintegration and follow up action; IT enabled registration of cases of missing children and a centralized system of lodging complaints relating to missing children. The Committee has also suggested strengthening of communities, more effective performance of duties by civic authorities, and steps to curtail superstitious beliefs and action against people like tantriks found involved in misguiding people. It has further suggested trauma counseling for the victims’ families.
The Committee strongly recommends that highest priority must be accorded by all State Governments to formulate a safe and protective environment for children and for which the Ministry is already taking a number of steps to ensure the protection of children. These initiatives include schemes like Integrated Child Protection Scheme and Comprehensive scheme for Prevention of Trafficking of Women and Children and their Rescue and Rehabilitation; legislations like Offences Against Children (Prevention) Bill, and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956; Constitution of a National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and setting up of child lines and women help lines.
Besides the Chairperson, Smt. Manjula Krishnan, the other Members of the Committee were :
1. Shri K.Skandan Joint Secretary (CS) Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. Shri J. S. Kochher, Director, Union Ministry of WCD.
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(Release ID :24129)