Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Jammu and Kashmir recorded 308 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act during 2024, with nearly three-fourths of them involving allegations of penetrative sexual assault, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.
Of the total, 228 cases were registered under Sections 4 and 6 of the Act, which cover penetrative sexual assault and aggravated penetrative sexual assault. Another 65 cases were registered under Sections 8 and 10, relating to sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault. Seven cases were registered under Section 12, which deals with the sexual harassment of children, and five under Sections 14 and 15, which relate to the use of children for pornographic purposes. Three further cases fall under Sections 17 to 22, covering offences including abetment and related provisions.
Overall, the Union Territory recorded 887 cases of crimes against children in 2024, of which the 308 POCSO cases account for roughly a third.
The POCSO Act, enacted in 2012, is the principal law dealing with sexual offences against children in India. It provides for child friendly procedures during reporting, investigation and trial, mandates the setting up of special courts, and places a legal duty on any person who knows of such an offence to report it. The sections cited in the data reflect the graded nature of the law, which treats offences differently depending on their severity and on the circumstances, such as the position of the offender or the age of the child.
Child protection experts caution that figures drawn from registered cases show only part of the picture. They note that a rise in recorded numbers can partly reflect greater willingness to report, while many incidents, particularly those involving a person known to the child, continue to go unreported because of fear, stigma or pressure within families. Their consistent advice is that prevention depends on awareness at the community level.
Specialists recommend that parents and teachers talk openly with children about body safety and about whom they can trust, that schools put clear reporting channels in place, and that any concern be brought promptly to the police, the Childline service on 1098 or the nearest child welfare authority. Prompt reporting helps ensure that a child receives medical care, counselling and legal protection without delay.
The data underline the importance of strong enforcement, speedy trials and sustained support for survivors and their families. For Jammu and Kashmir, where institutions such as the police, the Social Welfare Department and child protection units work alongside civil society, the figures serve as a reminder that safeguarding children remains a shared responsibility that extends well beyond the courtroom.
