Increased legal awareness and rapid measure of the police resulted in registration more than 300 cases of sexual assault under the protection of children from sexual offenses (PESO) in recent months in Kozhikode. The numbers available to the State Records Office confirm that the district is second in the total number of POOSO cases registered in the state from January to August 2025.
Police attributed the rise in cases of non -increased crimes, but improved legal awareness and rapid reports of the survivors and their families. “More children and parents now know forms of abuse and available legal steps. This awareness has had a change in the way the cases were reported and investigated,” said a police officer associated with cases of child protection.
According to the police, in newly reported cases, individuals who have survived, including relatives, teachers and acquaintances, are most accused. “There were also some false complaints that were then withdrawn after the investigation,” they said, adding that against people who came up with unfounded accusations, they added that legal steps.
Children’s rights activists noted that the Childline India Foundation, which cooperates with various state counseling initiatives, has played a key role in showing many recent cases. According to them, regular counseling sessions in schools have become key children’s spaces to feel safe and conveniently revealing the incidents of abuse.
“Students were found to open during such sessions. For many, this is the first accessible opportunity to talk about their experience. Such interactions have led to early negotiations in many incidents,” said the State official of the Childline India Foundation Foundation. He added that it was found that several schools have appointed internal advisors to support the emotional well -being of students and that they are conducting sessions of awareness of personal security, types of abuse, legal sanctions and healthy differences.
“It is quite impossible to silence or mislead the child who speaks in the counseling meeting because we accept a very professional approach. Many are now more confident in the system and are looking for support in time,” said the woman who works in the Kozhikode auxiliary school. She pointed out that the police in coordination with Kerala Legal Services Society, the State Women Commission and the forums of various lawyers expanded all support for public families for students, parents, teachers and youth.
“We have also received several training on the effective use of the law. In all cases, the investigation of friendly children is adopted and protects the identity of the survivors and their families,” the policeman said. He added that an increase in the incidents of sexual infestation of news can be considered as a sign of improved public awareness of solving sexual abuse of children.
Published – 4 October 2025 20:06
