Since 2016, a staggering 44 survivors of child sexual abuse in Kerala have tragically taken their own lives, according to government data under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. This data, revealed last month in the state assembly, also indicates that over 31,000 cases of sexual abuse have been registered during the 8.5 years of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government’s tenure.
The data follows a disturbing revelation from Kerala Police, who registered 30 cases and arrested 57 people in connection with the repeated rape and sexual abuse of a Dalit girl over several years.
From June 2016 to December 2024, Kerala recorded 31,171 POCSO cases, with 28,728 arrests. Notably, 271 new cases and 175 arrests were reported in the first 17 days of 2025 alone. However, despite fast-track courts dedicated to these cases, only 2,614 cases have resulted in convictions.
The rise in child sexual assault cases has been significant since 2022, with cases growing from 3,000 annually between 2016 and 2021, to over 4,500 in the following years. The psychological toll on survivors has been severe, with increased suicide rates and a rise in depressive tendencies among minors after enduring trauma.
K V Manoj Kumar, the chairperson of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, emphasized the importance of psychological support for survivors and intervention from various departments. However, the situation is complicated by cases involving family members, where children are often reluctant to testify or may even turn hostile during trials.
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