Kanpur violence: Child rights body asks police to probe involvement of children
India Today
After a minor surrendered at the Colonelganj police station in connection with the Kanpur violence today, the child rights body has asked the police to probe the involvement of children. The Commission has also requested that the minor should be produced before the Child Welfare Committee.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote a letter to Vijay Singh Meena, Commissioner of Police, Kanpur on Tuesday to take legal action against people who allegedly used a minor in communal violence. In a letter addressed to Kanpur Police Commissioner, the NCPCR said that they have come across a media report where a minor boy had surrendered at Colonanganj Police Station after the posters of the accused involved in the violence were released.
Earlier today, one of the 40 rioters identified by the Kanpur police surrendered at the Colonelganj police station. The accused is a minor and his elder brother and brother-in-law, who were also involved in the violent clashes and stone-pelting that took place in the city on Friday, were arrested yesterday.
The letter read, "The report further indicates that the said minor boy is involved in stone pelting as per his identity being matched with the video footage." The Commission has also requested that the minor should be produced before the Child Welfare Committee. It has also asked the police to submit the report within three days of receiving the letter.
The child rights body expressed concerns that the anti-social elements involved in the communal violence in Kanpur has used minors for such illegal activities. "The Commission is of the view that it is evident that the anti-social elements involved in the said communal violence in Kanpur has used minors for such illegal activities, which prima facie contravention of Section 75 and 83(2) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015and relevant Sections of Indian Penal Code, 1860," it stated in the letter.
NCPCR has appealed to the police officers to initiate an inquiry and further supplement the relevant Sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and IPS in the FIR. They have also requested the minor should be produced before the Child Welfare Committee and a report must be submitted within three days of receiving the letter.
The Kanpur Police has released the pictures of 40 men after scouring through hours of CCTV and video footage in connection with the clashes and stone pelting reported from the city last Friday. The police suspect these men to have played an active role in the Friday violence that injured several people.
Violent clashes and stone pelting were reported in Kanpur’s Parade Chowk last Friday when a group of people tried to force shopkeepers to down the shutters over remarks made by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Mohammed in a TV debate.
