TODAY'S PAPER » NATIONAL » KARNATAKA
BELGAUM, December 6, 2013
24,663 girls, 13,795 boys missing in three years in State
There were 24,663 cases of missing girls registered in the State from 2010 to November 2013. For boys, the missing number stood at 13,795 during the same period. The highest number of girls who went missing was in 2012, with 6,729 cases registered. Bangalore recorded the highest, with 2,743 missing cases of both boys and girls in 2013.
Disclosing this in the Legislative Council during Question Hour, Home Minister K.J. George said the police have cracked 21,993 cases of missing girls and 11,214 cases of missing boys.
Stating that there were many reasons for children going missing, Mr. George said the issue could be addressed only if society accepts love marriages. “Otherwise, the incidents are bound to increase,” he said. “A meeting of top police officials would be convened soon to discuss the issue,” he added.
Bhanu Prakash (BJP) had alleged that the police could not pinpoint reasons for the increasing incidence of missing girls and suggested that they should provide an opportunity to parents of missing girls to convince their daughters, who have eloped after falling in love with boys from other castes and religions, to return home.
The Minister said the police were trying to create awareness among rescued girls and boys, with the help of non-governmental organisations. The police also provide an opportunity for parents to convince their children, in the case of love marriages, he added.
Canteen facilities
Reiterating the government’s commitment to protect the interests of police personnel, Mr. George said the government would open police canteens on the lines of the Army in the State. He also said the government was planning a 600-bed hospital and medical college for police staff. “A proposal will be discussed in the Cabinet soon,” he said. On the issue of hiking allowance of the police, who are on duty during elections and other special occasions, he said a proposal has been submitted to the Finance Department.
Human trafficking
The case of the Chickballapur police busting a prostitution racket and rescuing nine women from two brothels in New Delhi also echoed in the Upper House.
Replying to a question on the incident by Y.A. Narayanaswamy (BJP), Mr. George clarified that no organised group was active in human trafficking in the State. Four persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and the probe was progressing.
As many as 32 incidents of trafficking were reported from various parts of the State in 2012-13, and the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of the Criminal Investigation Department had registered the cases.
Admitting that there was an increase in incidents of chain-snatching in Bangalore city, he said over 972 cases were reported from 2011 to October 2013, and police have cracked over 783 cases. Most of the chain-snatching cases occurred during early morning and evening hours. The department has strengthened the patrolling system, he said.
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