Itanagar: Despite the exposure of the egregious minor sex racket by the Capital police last month, the eight government officials named in the FIR have neither been suspended from their services nor has any departmental inquiry been initiated against them.
The observation was made by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which has called for urgent measures in response to the sex racket uncovered in Arunachal Pradesh.
In a series of raids conducted over 10 days last month, the Capital police arrested 21 individuals, including traffickers, pimps, and customers, while also rescuing five girls aged between 10 and 15. Notably, among the apprehended customers were eight government employees.
The NCPCR, a statutory body under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, has highlighted critical lapses and made several recommendations to the state government.
In a letter addressed to chief secretary Dharmendra, NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanoongo detailed the Commission’s findings following a suo-motu cognizance of a news report titled “Sex Racket Busted in Arunachal, 8 Govt. Officials Among 21 Arrested,” published in The Times of India on May 16, 2024.
A fact-finding team, led by NCPCR member Preeti Bharadwaj Dalai, visited Itanagar on May 22. The team inspected the facility where the minor victims are housed and interacted with them and relevant officials.
During the visit, it was found that the minor victims are suffering from sexually transmitted infections, malnutrition, physical exhaustion, and post-traumatic stress. The facility where the victims are currently placed is deemed unsuitable.
The NCPCR has issued recommendations to be implemented within 10 days, which include transferring the victims to a specialized facility offering rigorous and regular counselling and treatment to aid their recovery.
Immediate action or departmental inquiries should be initiated against the implicated officials by their respective departments. Legal actions should include invoking Section 376D and Section 377 of IPC and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, in the FIR charge sheet as per the investigation’s revelations.
Additionally, the Commission emphasized the preparation of Social Investigation Reports (SIR) and Individual Care Plans (ICP) for the victims, addressing their overall development, future safety, educational needs, and skill development.
“Support Persons under Section 39 of the POCSO Act should be appointed to assist the minor victims with their legal case management. Given the sensitivity of the case and the victims’ threat perception, their safety and security must be ensured. The identity of the survivors should be protected as mandated by law,” the NCPCR said.
Also read: Transformative reforms unveiled as CM Khandu leads Arunachal’s next chapter
