By Dheeraj Fartode
Maharashtra has emerged as the most dangerous place for children under 12, with the highest number of murder victims in this age group across the country. While some of these child killings may be linked with kidnappings, social factors common in many slums such as domestic strife and sexual abuse are contributing to children becoming victims. According to the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for the year 2022, Maharashtra surpasses other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Bihar, with 46 boys and 45 girls under 12 years of age falling victim to murder. Even when extending the age bar to 18 years, the state only slips to the second spot, trailing behind Uttar Pradesh.
A five-year-old girl became a victim of alleged parental brutality in a “black magic” ritual aimed at dispelling “evil forces”, in Rana Pratap Nagar area of Nagpur this year. The child’s father, Siddharth Chimne (45), mother and aunt had killed the child at their house. Tragedies like these are not isolated. On June 21, 2021, a 50-year-old man in Nagpur took his own life after killing five family members, including his
two children. In a recent case,a woman
died by suicide after allegedly killing
her three-year-old daughter at
Narkhed in Nagpur district.
The grim statistics continue: 34 boys
and 26 girls under six years of age were
killed, along with 12 boys and 19 girls
in the 6-12 age group. Instances of
child murders are not limited to a particular
region, with several cases
reported in Nagpur and through out
Maharashtra.
In 2021, 101 children under the age
group were killed in the State while
121 children were killed in 2020 which
shows a continous trend of child murders
in the State.
According to a retired
Director General of Police, a majority
of the se deat hsstem from sexual abuse,
crimes for money, and instances of
domestic violence. Disturbingly, sexual
abuse cases surface in lowerincome
classes while occurrences in
the upper class often go unreported
or unnoticed. A serving police official
who do not wish to be named suggested
that most childmurders involve
known perpetrators who take advantage
of the child’s vulnerability. “High
prevalence of addiction to liquor,
drugs, gambling, and prostitution
among male heads of families in
Maharashtra are the reason for the
surge in domestic violence especillay
in middle and lower-income groups
in the State. And, most child victims
losing their lives in the midst of such
domestic turmoil,” he said.