As many as 599 minors were apprehended by UT Police for their alleged involvement in various criminal offences between January 1, 2020, and November 5, 2025, according to official data. The offences ranged from murder and attempted murder to snatching, burglary, theft and Arms Act violations, highlighting a worrying trend of juvenile involvement in serious crimes.
Heinous offences raise serious concern
Police records show that 186 juveniles were apprehended for heinous crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, sexual assault and dacoity during the five-year period. Another 220 minors were held for robbery, burglary, snatching and theft, while 116 were booked in cases related to rioting and assault. A further 77 juveniles were apprehended under miscellaneous offences and special local laws.
Officials noted that a significant number of these minors came from rehabilitated colonies and villages on the city’s outskirts, including Ramdarbar, Burail, Maloya, Dhanas, Sector 25 Colony, New Indira Colony and Maulijagran.
Ramdarbar and Maloya among hotspots
Police station-wise data reveals that Maulijagran police station recorded the highest number of juvenile apprehensions, with 78 cases between 2020 and 2025. It was followed by Sector 31 (70) and Sector 11 (68). Other stations with high numbers included Sarangpur (49), Maloya (48), Mani Majra (44) and Sector 39 (41).
Several sensational crimes involving juveniles were reported during this period. On December 16, 2025, a Chandigarh district court sentenced three juveniles for the murder of a man in Ramdarbar. More recently, on November 30, Maloya police arrested three juveniles among four accused for allegedly stabbing a 26-year-old man to death. In another case on October 28, four juveniles were among five arrested for the murder of a 20-year-old man in Ramdarbar.
School dropouts form majority
According to officials from Chandigarh Police, most minors involved in criminal activities had discontinued their education and belonged to economically weaker families from peripheral areas of the city. “Additional efforts are being made to counsel such children and their parents, and to facilitate their enrolment in schools or skill programmes,” an officer said.
Rehabilitation through skills and sports
To curb juvenile delinquency, UT Police have been running initiatives such as Sahyog and Urja since 2017, focusing on skill development, counselling and job training for vulnerable youth. The police also organise gully cricket tournaments and community activities annually to steer children away from crime and substance abuse.
Officials stressed that cases involving very young children are handled with sensitivity, with rehabilitation and education prioritised over punitive measures wherever possible