Madhya Pradesh: Offender known to victims in over 97% of grave child sexual assault cases
Special Correspondent
NewsBits.in
BHOPAL: As Madhya Pradesh marks National Girl Child Day (January 24), the latest data from the Crime in India 2023 report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) highlights important concerns around the safety of girls.
The data shows that in 97.2 percent of cases of penetrative sexual assault against children registered under Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the offender was known to the victim, pointing to the importance of strengthening preventive measures within families and communities.
A five-year trend analysis of NCRB data conducted by Child Rights and You (CRY) shows that this pattern has remained consistent over time. In 2023, 3,756 out of 3,866 cases registered under Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act involved offenders known to the victim.
Similar trends were observed in previous years, with known offenders accounting for 99.2 percent of cases in 2022; 99.1 percent in 2021; 97.9 percent in 2020; and 96.9 percent in 2019.
“It is significant that families and children are coming forward to report sexual abuse even when the accused is a family member, relative, or someone trusted,” said Soha Moitra, Regional Director, Child Rights and You (CRY).
“This reflects growing awareness and trust in reporting mechanisms, but it also reinforces the need to strengthen community-based protection systems. CRY’s work focuses on building vigilant local networks like VLCPCs and engaging parents and caregivers so that risks are identified early and children are protected before harm occurs.”
In 2023, 239 cases were linked to family members, while 1,267 involved family friends, neighbours, employers or other known adults. The largest share 2,250 cases involved friends, online acquaintances and live-in partners. A review of NCRB data over the past five years shows that this pattern has remained consistent, indicating that risks to children are most concentrated within their immediate social and peer environments rather than among strangers.
Known vs unknown offenders under POCSO
S.no
Category
POCSO
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
1
Cases Offender unknown/ unidentified to victim
110
28
30
70
105
2
Cases Offender known to victim
3756
3618
3485
3189
3232
2.A
Family member
239
230
379
264
286
2.B
Family friends/ neighbours/ employer/ other known
1267
1383
1458
1070
1203
2.C
Friends/ online friends/ liv in partners
2250
2005
1648
1855
1407
Girls of 16-18 age group most vulnerable to sexual abuse
According to NCRB 2023 data, vulnerability to sexual abuse increases sharply during adolescence, with girls in the 16 to 18 years age group emerging as the most affected. In this category, 2,003 out of 2,018 victims were girls, accounting for 99.26 percent of cases.
The data also shows that among younger children, all 62 victims below six years and all 246 victims aged 6 to 12 years were girls. In the 12 to 16 years group, 1,565 of 1,567 victims were girls (99.87%). Overall, of the 3,893 child victims recorded under POCSO in 2023,3,876 were girls, representing 99.56 percent of cases.
Sexual offences against children in MP rose by 8.92 percent over one year
Sexual offences against children in MP increased from 6,007 cases in 2022 to 6,543 cases in 2023, marking an 8.92 percent rise over one year. Most of this increase comes from cases registered under POCSO along with related IPC sections, which grew by 8.69 percent. While some categories such as rape and trafficking show no recorded cases, other forms of sexual harm saw sharp increases. Attempts to commit rape rose from 3 cases to 15 cases, and case related to selling minors for prostitution doubled from 1 to 2. Insult to modesty also rose from 5 to 6 cases.
Rising Risks in Digital and Peer Spaces
While NCRB data does not separately classify cases where online interactions directly led to abuse, the category comprising friends, online acquaintances, and live-in partners has shown a consistent rise over the past five years. “Cases in this category increased from 1,407 in 2019 to 1,855 in 2020, remained high at 1,648 in 2021, and rose further to 2,005 in 2022. This trend, coupled with increased internet usage among adolescents, raises serious concerns about emerging risks in digital and peer spaces. It emphasizes the need for greater parental vigilance, regular conversations with children about online interactions, and stronger cyber safety frameworks to address evolving digital threats,” said Moitra.
Concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic may have left children far more exposed to online education and entertainment platforms—thereby increasing their vulnerability—appear to be reflected in the current NCRB data. At the same time, sustained efforts by the government and civil society organisations to raise awareness around child safety and reporting mechanisms may have contributed to the sharp rise in recorded cases, indicating both increased risk and improved reporting.
Sexual offences made up 29.22 percent of all crimes against children in MP in 2023, a trend which is similar to 2022. This indicates that while overall crimes against children have grown, sexual offences continue to form a substantial and persistent share of the caseload.
As a child rights organisation working in Madhya Pradesh for over two decades, CRY emphasises that protecting children requires shared responsibility across the community.
Early communication with children, attentiveness to changes in behaviour, and timely intervention are critical to preventing harm. “Strengthening and activating local child protection mechanisms including Village Level Child Protection Committees (VLCPCs), Women and Child Protection Services (WCPS/WPCS), and the role of panchayats and other local bodies is essential to building a functional safety net that can identify risks early and respond effectively”, Moitra concluded.
