Parents note: Too many teens bunk classes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The pink patrol by police women formed to keep a check on eve-teasers has  reported that an alarming number of teenagers, both boys and girls,  bunk classes and loiter around in public places. While bunking and roaming around has been an adventure that children used to undertake for years, the numbers are alarming, as per officials.

“For example, children escape from school informing others that their uniforms are improper. Even when classes get over in the afternoon, children get back home at night. Parents need to know where all the teenagers from class VIII to XII go,” City Police Commissioner Sparjan Kumar said.

As per the officials of city control room, the increased access children have over information technology makes them more susceptible to dangers. The pink patrol sent primarily to check anti-socials also operate in bus stands and around educational institutions.

“We had earlier sent undercover women cops to some of the biggest girls’ schools in the city. From time to time,  eve-teasers who attempt to establish relations with children were caught. There are girls who escape from school citing sickness in the afternoon,” said a control room official.

The Kazhakoottam police had a few months back held around a dozen children for sniffing glue sitting in a private plot.  In December last year, two school girls were allegedly raped at Azhikkal by the friends of a  localite who befriended one of them over phone.