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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hangsing further emphasised the importance of creating a
child-friendly and non-intimidating environment during police interactions.
“Children must feel protected and safe, not fearful, when
engaging with the police,” he urged.
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.
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.
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.
She further recommended regular training, development of
standard operating procedures and stronger accountability mechanisms to address
those gaps.
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).
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.
The programme concluded with an interactive question and
answer session, where participants raised pertinent questions and clarified
their doubts.
