The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Thane) : The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has expressed strong disapproval of the actions of Mumbai’s Shivajinagar police for detaining and physically assaulting five children during an investigation into a theft. The children, aged between 11 and 15, were questioned in relation to a theft of Rs 63,000 from a woman’s purse in the Govandi area of Mumbai.
Chairperson Susieben Shah emphasized that under no circumstances should children be subjected to physical harm, even if they are involved in criminal activities. A hearing held at the commission’s headquarters in Mumbai addressed these allegations, with instructions for the police to respect the rights of children and to conclude their investigation within seven days, submitting a detailed report to the commission.
Shah stressed the importance of society’s role in preventing children from engaging in criminal behavior, stating, “No child is born a criminal. Certain circumstances make them take such steps. It is a collective responsibility of every element of the society to bring about a change in the situation.”
The hearing was attended by Additional Director General of Police Deepak Pandey, Senior Inspector of Shivajinagar Police Station Bapurao Deshmukh, and the parents of the detained children. Reports indicated that the children were picked up from a nearby settlement after being suspected based on CCTV footage and the complainant’s statement. Allegations arose that the police detained the children at the station and subjected them to physical abuse, with one 11-year-old boy reportedly held in custody overnight. Additionally, a minor girl was asked to demonstrate whether she had concealed money in her clothing.
The MSCPCR’s intervention highlights the necessity of adhering to child rights and the need for law enforcement to adopt non-violent and respectful methods when dealing with minors, especially in legal proceedings.