SRINAGAR: Impressing upon police officers to exhibit sensitiveness while dealing with juvenile delinquents, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir Sunday said that parents, teachers and religious leaders need to come together cohesively to contain juvenile delinquencies in society.
A statement issued by a police spokesman said that IGP who was speaking at the valedictory function of one day workshop on introduction of new law on juvenile justice at police headquarters here said that the children below the age of 18 years involved in the crime have not developed the mental facility to judge what is right and what is wrong.
“Police has an important role in rehabilitating the children who are involved in breaking any law and these children need more care and protection,” the IGP added.
According to the statement, the IGP “impressed upon the police officers that while dealing with the juvenile they should always keep in mind that they are not dealing with any criminal and their response should be more sensitive and rational.”
“The Delhi gang rape has shook the nation as well as the perceptions regarding the laws dealing with juvenile delinquents,” he said.
Mir also said that besides police, parents also have a role to play in raising their children in the proper way.
“Parents need to understand basics of parenting especially with the advent of information technology, particularly, social networking sites parents have an added responsibility to keep a watch on their wards about the stuff they are exposed to,” he said.
Earlier, the deputy Inspector General of Police, central Kashmir, S A Mujtaba while inaugurating the workshop said that “we need to give emphasis on reformation and rehabilitation of the juvenile delinquents so that they don’t grow as adult criminals but as normal persons.”
“We need to create facilities wherein we have counseling and recreation side by side in juvenile homes,” Mujtaba added.
The statement said that more than 200 police officers attended the workshop titled Introduction of New Law on Juvenile Justice was organized by and NGO, Voice for Rights (VR) in collaboration with J&K Police.

Reader correspondent