POCSO Charges Filed Against Three Journalists of Top Malayalam News Channel

A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against a senior editor and two reporters of a prominent Malayalam news channel in connection with their coverage of the recent state school festival, PTI reported, citing police. The offences are bailable, the police confirmed.

According to PTI, during the coverage of the state school festival in the first week of January, certain statements made by the channel’s reporters about one of the contestants allegedly carried “double meaning.”

An FIR was filed under Sections 11 (sexual harassment) and 12 (punishment for sexual harassment) of the POCSO Act against the three journalists, an officer from the Cantonment police station confirmed.

The case was registered based on a report from the Women and Child Development Office.

Sexual abuse in Kerala

Child sexual abuse continues to be a pressing issue in Kerala, with 4,196 cases reported under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, until November last year, according to a report by The New Indian Express on Wednesday. A source from the State Crime Records Bureau indicated that the total could surpass 4,500 once the December 2024 data is finalised, expected by early February.

In 2023, Kerala registered 4,641 POCSO cases. Among the districts, Thiruvananthapuram recorded the highest number of cases (541), followed by Malappuram (465), Kozhikode (416), and Kollam (397). Pathanamthitta reported the fewest cases (150).

Soja Thulsidharan, the special prosecutor for POCSO cases in Kollam, highlighted the alarming rise in child sexual abuse cases, many of which occur within homes and educational institutions. She noted an increase in cases involving male victims, stating, “Previously, sexual abuse cases involving male victims were limited to one or two. But now around 50 such cases are reported annually.”

Thulsidharan also pointed out that consensual sexual activity among teenagers contributes significantly to the numbers. “Teenagers often do not realise that sexual activity below the age of 18 is not legally consensual. These incidents often come to light when the victim becomes pregnant or faces other medical issues. It is important to not only raise awareness but also educate children about the POCSO Act,” she added.