Kohima police sensitised on child rights

Teisovise Metha and Alun Hangsing along with other officials during a sensitisation programme on child rights in Kohima on Thursday.

• DIMAPUR — The Kohima District Executive Force (DEF), in collaboration with the Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR), conducted a one-day sensitisation programme on child rights for investigation and police officers at the conference hall of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Kohima on Thursday.
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• A DIPR report stated that the programme was organised with an aim to equip law enforcement personnel with a deeper understanding of child protection laws and procedures.

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• Delivering the welcome address, the SP of Kohima, Teisovise Metha, shared that the programme was designed to build the capacity of officers in handling cases involving children with greater sensitivity and legal awareness.
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• In his keynote address, Alun Hangsing, chairman of NSCPCR emphasised the growing need for stronger collaboration between the police department and NSCPCR to effectively address crimes against women and children. He noted that while NSCPCR primarily engaged in investigative roles in the past, the programme represented a step forward in institutional cooperation with law enforcement.
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• Describing policing as a noble yet demanding profession, Hangsing stated that a society’s peace and well-being often depended on the professionalism and integrity of its police force. He pointed out that public awareness and legal frameworks surrounding crimes against women and children have evolved significantly, demanding more specialised knowledge and empathetic approaches from police personnel.
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• He underscored the importance of police officers on being conversant with not only in general criminal law such as the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) but also in key child protection legislations like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
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• Hangsing further emphasised the importance of creating a child-friendly and non-intimidating environment during police interactions.
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• “Children must feel protected and safe, not fearful, when engaging with the police,” he urged.
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• Akumla Longchari, member of NSCPCR delivered a comprehensive presentation on the POCSO Act, detailing the critical role of police officers in safeguarding the rights and well-being of child victims. She stressed on the importance of immediate FIR registration, notifying the child welfare committee (CWC) within 24 hours, arranging timely medical examinations and ensuring both safety and confidentiality.
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• She warned against practices that could lead to secondary victimisation such as aggressive interrogation, disclosure of identity, victim-blaming or encouraging compromise or mediation in such cases. She also highlighted the Act’s time-bound mandates, which required investigations to be completed within two months and trials within one year.
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• Akumla encouraged the officers to adopt child-sensitive practices such as using simple, non-threatening language, involving female officers when appropriate and recording statements with care and sensitivity.
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• She further recommended regular training, development of standard operating procedures and stronger accountability mechanisms to address those gaps.
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• Lichani Murry, legal consultant to NSCPCR, presented an overview of the Juvenile Justice Act, which focuses not only on the protection but also the rehabilitation and development of children in need of care. She also elaborated on the role of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) and stressed on the importance of collaboration between police and other child protection stakeholders including the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Child Helplines and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA).
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• Murry further stressed that police stations must adopt child-sensitive procedures, including the creation of child-friendly spaces, the use of plain clothes instead of uniforms during child interactions and the availability of medical, legal and interpreter support. She has cautioned against procedural violations such as registering FIRs against children in conflict with the law, detaining them in lock-ups or adult jails, using handcuffs or disclosing their identity to the media.
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• The programme concluded with an interactive question and answer session, where participants raised pertinent questions and clarified their doubts.