More minors lodged in observation home in Yerwada than its capacity; rising number of children involved in crime concerning

Pune: Growing involvement of minors in crimes such as drugs, koyta gang, damaging of vehicles, murder, etc, is concerning. Many koyta gangs cropped up in the city in the recent past, in which minors were seen wielding sickles and terrorising people.

Minors in accidents

Many accidents involving minors were reported after the hit-and-run case in Kalyani Nagar. The police have a challenge to prevent minors from committing crime.

The observation home in Yerwada

In this backdrop, a disturbing revelation has been made. The observation home in Yerwada, which has a capacity of 50, has 70 minors lodged in it. Their number has been growing.

The observation home is located in the Golf Course area in Yerwada. Children in conflict with law (CCLs) are lodged here instead of jail. They are counselled and kept engaged in an activity of their liking. They are released by the orders of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB). It is concerning that their number is increasing.

Reasons behind the growing number

The CCL in the hit-and-run case in Kalyani Nagar was also sent to this observation home. Minors are committing serious offences. Parents are unable to rein in their children. They take to crime due to too much freedom, social media and mobile phones.

Their increasing number is a headache for the police. Nobody can guarantee that a CCL released from the observation home would not join the world of crime again. Therefore, it is essential to give a positive direction to their life during childhood.

Addiction, a major cause

The CCL was drunk in the hit-and-run case. It is now being asked how many minors would be drinking. Experts have said that minors after becoming addicts commit offences. The hit-and-run case and the drug party case on Fergusson College road have startled the police.

The government is taking measures

Guidelines have now been issued to pubs, bars and restaurants and action is being taken against violators. Selling liquor to children below 18 years old has been prohibited. Only time will tell whether such measures would help in curbing this trend.