Telangana records 62 child sexual abuse cases in nine months

A total of 127 male child victims have been registered across cases filed since the beginning of 2024 in the southern state, according to official records. The data underscores a persistent challenge in documenting crimes against children, with law enforcement officials acknowledging that many incidents remain unreported due to families' concerns about social ostracism and damage to family reputation.

The stigma surrounding sexual abuse of boys presents a particular barrier to reporting, officials said, as families often choose silence over seeking legal recourse. This reluctance to come forward means the true scale of child sexual abuse in the state remains concealed, with documented cases representing only a fraction of actual incidents occurring in communities across Telangana.

The POCSO Act, enacted in 2012, provides a legal framework for protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse. Despite the law's provisions, implementation challenges persist, including gaps in awareness among families and communities about reporting mechanisms and support services available to victims.

Civil society organizations and child welfare advocates have called for increased community engagement and sensitivity training to encourage reporting and ensure that cases reach authorities. They emphasize that overcoming social resistance to disclosure is essential to protecting vulnerable children and holding offenders accountable.