Hyderabad: Crimes committed by juveniles is a harsh reality in India. In recent times, juveniles were found to be involved in most heinous crimes such as murder, theft and robbery.
“Successful school experiences and a healthy relationship with parents or family keeps teens from both committing crimes and having anti-social behaviour. Education and academic achievement can lessen the risk of crime for all youth, including those who have been abused,” a senior police official said.
“A strong and secure attachment with a primary caregiver is the core of developing resilience and a healthy personality,” a psychiatrist said.
“Young children are highly sensitive to other people’s emotions, particularly those of their family members. Witnessing verbal or physical violence and discord has direct negative effects with long-lasting consequences,” said Dr. Purnima Nagaraja, a child psychiatrist.
“Similarly, children who experience parental abuse or neglect are more likely to show negative outcomes that carry forward into adult life, with ongoing problems such as emotional regulation, self-concept, social skills, and academic motivation, as well as serious learning and adjustment problems, including academic failure, severe depression, aggressive behaviour, peer difficulties, substance abuse, and delinquency,” an official from Bharosa Centre, Hyderabad, said.
“Apart from bad upbringing, some of the most common causes that are associated with juveniles committing crimes are poverty, drug abuse, anti-social peer group, easy availability of firearms, child sexual abuse and the role of media,” listed out Dr. Mamta C., a psychologist.
“However, in India, it is mainly poverty and the effect of media, especially the social-media which makes juveniles more inclined towards criminal activities. Poverty and lack of ‘cool gadgets’ is one of the biggest causes that force a child to get involved in criminal acts. Also, the role played by social media is having more negative than positive imprints on young minds,” she said.
“Earlier last week, two minor boys who were loitering around a wine shop at Puranapool broke in and fled with approximately Rs 6,000 during the early morning hours. Their first attempt to break open a ventillator was recorded in the CCTV camera present there,” Kulsumpura Police Inspector Ram Mohan Rao said.
Last year, a teenager was booked by LB Nagar Police for bike thefts. According to the police, he was arrested two times before from the police station limits of Malakpet and Chaitanya-puri and the officials recovered 15 bikes worth Rs 8.5 lakhs from his possession.
“Legally speaking, a juvenile can be defined as a child who has not attained a certain age at which he can be held liable for his criminal acts, like an adult person under the law of the country. Juvenile is a child who is alleged to have committed certain acts or omissions which are in violation of any law and are declared to be an offence. In terms of law, a juvenile is a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.
It has a legal significance. As per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2000, a juvenile shall not be treated as an adult even if he/she is involved in any criminal act for the purpose of trial and punishment in the court of law,” said Raj Kumar, a lawyer from Secunderabad.
