Latest news with #JuvenileJusticeAct
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tortured with iron rods in Gujarat, West Bengal boy fights for life back to home
KALNA: After a video showing inhuman torture being meted out to a minor in Gujarat's Rajkot went viral, Bengal government has stepped in to take care of the medical and legal expenses of the 10-year-old Kalna boy purportedly seen in the clip. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The boy from East Burdwan, allegedly beaten up brutally by his employer with iron rods, is admitted at a Kalna hospital. His father has lodged a complaint with Kalna SDO and cops have started a probe. In the complaint to SDO Shubham Aggarwal, the victim's father stated that he had sent his son to work at an imitation ornament factory owned by Hapal Mollah two years ago. "My boy complained that he was often assaulted. The employer didn't even pay him regularly," the boy's mother said. He had to be given IV drips and blood at the hospital, she said. Rajkot resident Molla had come to the family's home two years ago. "Due to extreme poverty, I was compelled to let my son go. Since then, he has been subjected to torture and beatings. My son's body is covered with scars. Last Sunday, a man named Kalu Ram brought him to Howrah station and handed him to us. We brought him home and immediately took him to the hospital, where he was admitted. We demand strict punishment for the culprit," the mother said. Kalna BDO (I) Supratik Saha told TOI: "The SDO has instructed an inquiry and we have arranged for the boy's treatment." Police said that they started a case against the employer for causing intentional grievous hurt using a dangerous weapon per Section 118 (2) of BNS. The maximum punishment for this is life imprisonment. Mollah has also been charged under the Juvenile Justice Act. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a statement, Trinamool slammed Gujarat's BJP govt for enabling such exploitation and dehumanising treatment. "Bengal govt, led by CM Mamata Banerjee, has assured that necessary steps are being taken to ensure the boy's care and protection," the party posted on X, adding, "In PM Narendra Modi's double engine state Gujarat, child labour is not only perpetuated but also accompanied by dehumanising treatment! In their contempt for Bengal, BJP is openly condoning these heinous acts against our people. CM Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal govt is taking all necessary measures to ensure his well-being and safety." TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Biswas, also the chairperson of Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board, said the panel was concerned with such incidents on the rise. "If needed, we will provide compensation to the boy," he said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
State to take care of expenses of Kalna boy tortured in Guj
1 2 Kalna: After a video showing inhuman torture being meted out to a minor in Gujarat's Rajkot went viral, Bengal govt has stepped in to take care of the medical and legal expenses of the 10-year-old Kalna boy purportedly seen in the clip. The boy from East Burdwan, allegedly beaten up brutally by his employer with iron rods, is admitted at a Kalna hospital. His father has lodged a complaint with Kalna SDO and cops have started a probe. In the complaint to SDO Shubham Aggarwal, the victim's father stated that he had sent his son to work at an imitation ornament factory owned by Hapal Mollah two years ago. "My boy complained that he was often assaulted. The employer didn't even pay him regularly," the boy's mother said. He had to be given IV drips and blood at the hospital, she said. Rajkot resident Molla had come to the family's home two years ago. "Due to extreme poverty, I was compelled to let my son go. Since then, he has been subjected to torture and beatings. My son's body is covered with scars. Last Sunday, a man named Kalu Ram brought him to Howrah station and handed him to us. We brought him home and immediately took him to the hospital, where he was admitted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo We demand strict punishment for the culprit," the mother said. Kalna BDO (I) Supratik Saha told TOI: "The SDO has instructed an inquiry and we have arranged for the boy's treatment." Police said that they started a case against the employer for causing intentional grievous hurt using a dangerous weapon per Section 118 (2) of BNS. The maximum punishment for this is life imprisonment. Mollah has also been charged under the Juvenile Justice Act. In a statement, Trinamool slammed Gujarat's BJP govt for enabling such exploitation and dehumanising treatment. "Bengal govt, led by CM Mamata Banerjee, has assured that necessary steps are being taken to ensure the boy's care and protection," the party posted on X, adding, "In PM Narendra Modi's double engine state Gujarat, child labour is not only perpetuated but also accompanied by dehumanising treatment! In their contempt for Bengal, BJP is openly condoning these heinous acts against our people. CM Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal govt is taking all necessary measures to ensure his well-being and safety." TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Biswas, also the chairperson of Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board, said the panel was concerned with such incidents on the rise. "If needed, we will provide compensation to the boy," he said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
47 ‘minor' girls rescued from four shrimp processing units in Nellore district
As many as 47 girls, suspected to be minors, working in four shrimp processing units, were rescued by special teams during joint inspections across SPSR Nellore district. Cases have been filed against these firms and the labour contractors at the Kodavalur, Dagadarthi and Indukurupeta police stations. As per the orders issued by District Collector O. Anand, the special teams constituted of officials from District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Factories and Police departments. Speaking to The Hindu, District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Suresh Kumar said, 'The teams conducted inspections at 12 shrimp processing units as per the action plan. We identified some girls, suspected to be minors, engaging in child labour, in four shrimp processing units.' 'With the support of Medical Officer, the DCPU has rescued these girls, who allegedly have been recorded as majors in their Aadhaar cards. They were shifted to Viswajanani, a child care institution registered under Juvenile Justice Act, at Rajupalem village in Kodavalur mandal,' he informed. Of the 47 girls, 10 have been confirmed as minors based on general, dental and radiological examination conducted by a team of doctors from ACSR Government General Hospital (GGH) in Nellore. Following the examinations, they were handed over to their parents from Odisha.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
As prodigies enter sports arena, experts call for child protection policy in cricket
The entire nation was in awe when 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar scored a century in an IPL match in April 2025, making him the youngest player to do so. However, coaches, psychologists, and child rights activists have raised an important question: is there a child protection policy in place for children in cricket? Aarti Sankaran, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Level 3 coach, pointed out that there are many things a child is exposed to when their skill is deemed sufficient for the international stage. 'The child needs to be informed and prepared for the situations they might have to face. Who will do that? Who will help the child navigate adult life in such a high-performance environment and ensure they feel included and safe? There is a collective need for serious discussions on policy regarding this,' she said. S. Dinesh, a cricket coach in Chennai, says the coaching scene is evolving, with newer coaches encouraging children to speak up. 'The space for psychological safety, where children can express themselves, is improving. However, having a policy to ensure their continued well-being would be a good start. Often, kids entering cricket feel immense pressure to meet their parents' expectations; to be the next Suryavanshi, for instance. They need a structured system and schedule that allows them to still be kids,' he said. In 2019, the International Cricket Council (ICC) developed Safeguarding Regulations for both adults and children, and advised member nations to create their own policies and procedures in line with local legal and cultural contexts. Stating that the IPL is predominantly an adult league, Keerthana Swaminathan, sports and exercise psychologist, said: 'Educating everyone on the team regarding safety and coping with pressure is paramount. Strict protocols on areas such as mental health literacy, panic attacks, and abuse sensitisation are also required.' Need for safeguards Sannuthi Suresh, programme coordinator for healing and support services, Tulir-Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, said: 'All competitive sporting contexts involving children require safeguards to ensure safety, along with protocols to address situations of abuse. Children are particularly vulnerable in these spaces, as the performance stakes are high, and coaching relationships often involve interpersonal boundaries that can easily shift from acceptable to inappropriate or unsafe.' She also emphasised that any child protection policy must be developed through consultations with relevant stakeholders and should align with the POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. When contacted, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said: 'Till now, we have been following the ICC guidelines regarding child safety. We haven't framed anything independently. In the near future, we are contemplating customising the ICC policy on child protection to better fit the Indian context.'
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
As prodigies enter the sports arena, experts call for a child protection policy in cricket
The entire nation was in awe when 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar scored a century in an IPL match in April 2025, making him the youngest player to do so. However, coaches, psychologists, and child rights activists have raised an important question: is there a child protection policy in place for children in cricket? Aarti Sankaran, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Level 3 coach, pointed out that there are many things a child is exposed to when their skill is deemed sufficient for the international stage. 'The child needs to be informed and prepared for the situations they might have to face. Who will do that? Who will help the child navigate adult life in such a high-performance environment and ensure they feel included and safe? There is a collective need for serious discussions on policy regarding this,' she said. S. Dinesh, a cricket coach in Chennai, says the coaching scene is evolving, with newer coaches encouraging children to speak up. 'The space for psychological safety, where children can express themselves, is improving. However, having a policy to ensure their continued well-being would be a good start. Often, kids entering cricket feel immense pressure to meet their parents' expectations; to be the next Suryavanshi, for instance. They need a structured system and schedule that allows them to still be kids,' he said. In 2019, the International Cricket Council (ICC) developed Safeguarding Regulations for both adults and children, and advised member nations to create their own policies and procedures in line with local legal and cultural contexts. Stating that the IPL is predominantly an adult league, Keerthana Swaminathan, sports and exercise psychologist, said: 'Educating everyone on the team regarding safety and coping with pressure is paramount. Strict protocols on areas such as mental health literacy, panic attacks, and abuse sensitisation are also required.' Need for safeguards Sannuthi Suresh, programme coordinator for healing and support services, Tulir-Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, said: 'All competitive sporting contexts involving children require safeguards to ensure safety, along with protocols to address situations of abuse. Children are particularly vulnerable in these spaces, as the performance stakes are high, and coaching relationships often involve interpersonal boundaries that can easily shift from acceptable to inappropriate or unsafe.' She also emphasised that any child protection policy must be developed through consultations with relevant stakeholders and should align with the POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. When contacted, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said: 'Till now, we have been following the ICC guidelines regarding child safety. We haven't framed anything independently. In the near future, we are contemplating customising the ICC policy on child protection to better fit the Indian context.'
