Thiruvananthapuram: Cops told act on those using children as shield

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has instructed the police chief to take action against Sabarimala protesters who are using children as a shield. 

Chairperson P. Suresh told DC that the Commission decided to take action, suo motu, after coming across news reports. 

“Children should not be used in the protests of adults. In this case, since they are exposed to physical harm, we have asked the police to take action based on Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act. If proven guilty, offenders are liable for a penalty of Rs 1 lakh or 3 years’ imprisonment. Also, we have felt a need to understand how children can also be participants of democratic protests. They might want to raise their issues and have the right to protest. We will be taking up a study on how this can be made possible,” he said. 

The commission also got complaints from members of the civic society, like academician J. Devika. “I am writing to complain to the KSCPCR about the manner in which the Hindu right-wing groups protesting against the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple are using children to push their violent and illegal agenda there,” Devika had written. There are many records of children being put right in front of the protesting mob. On Friday, journalist Kavitha Jakkal who attempted to go to Sabarimala temple issued a press statement in which she said: "We couldn't complete the journey as planned since the antisocial elements have put children and elder people in the line of fire."

News channels, on Friday, showed children lining up close to Sabarimala's 'parikarmi' team. The grown-ups were seen chanting ‘mantra’, but sitting below the 18 holy steps so that they can stop any woman under 50 years who would come that close. 

The children could be seen chanting too, emboldened by an atmosphere in which elders indulged in contempt of court. “They are being indirectly schooled in the lesson that it is legitimate to take the law of the land lightly,” Ms Devika had said in her complaint. 

The academician had sought both a ban on all children in Sabarimala this season. She also points out how the daughter of Madhavi, a pilgrim from Andhra Pradesh who tried to trek, was teary-eyed. 

“The images available of her family clearly reveal the atmosphere of threat and intimidation to children -- the terrified expression on the child's face is heartbreaking."