Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 14: Karnataka continues to face alarming levels of sexual offences against minors, with official data revealing that between April, May, and June alone, 1,104 cases were registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Home minister Dr G Parameshwara shared the figures during a legislative session, noting that between January and July this year, a total of 2,544 POCSO cases were registered across the state. He expressed concern over the growing number of sexual offences against children under the age of 18.

According to the data, Bengaluru city recorded the highest number of cases between January and July — 319 — followed by Shivamogga (131), Tumakuru (114), Chikkaballapur (113), Belagavi (100), Chitradurga (100), and Mysuru (99). In Udupi district, 30 cases were reported.

Statistics show that Karnataka registered 3,902 POCSO cases in 2023 and 4,064 in 2024. As of July this year, 2,544 cases have been recorded, of which judgments have been delivered in 1,927 cases, while 1,556 remain under investigation. In 2023, out of 3,902 cases, verdicts were delivered in 3,882, with 126 resulting in convictions. In 2024, courts delivered verdicts in 4,026 of the 4,064 cases, but only 36 convictions were recorded.