*New Delhi: *A sexual offence is committed against a child in India every15 minutes and there has been an increase of more than 500 per cent overthe past 10 years in crime against minors, an analysis by child rights NGOCRY has found.
The analysis, which was released on Thursday, also reveals that more than50 per cent of crimes against children have been recorded in just fivestates, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and West Bengal.
“There has been a significant increase in crimes against minors of morethan 500 per cent over the past 10 years with 1,06,958 cases being reportedin 2016 over a figure of 18,967 in 2006,” the Child Rights and You (CRY)analysis also said.
As per a 2016 analysis of crimes under Protection of Children from SexualOffences (POCSO) Act, sexual offences accounted for one-third of all crimesagainst children in India, it added.
“It is alarming to note that a sexual offence is committed against a childin India every 15 minutes,” it added.
The analysis comes at a time when there is outrage in the country overrecent rape cases involving minors in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua and UttarPradesh’s Unnao.
“While Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 15 per cent of recorded crimesagainst children, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh closely follow with 14 percent and 13 per cent respectively,” the report said.