Screengrab of the incident | Photo: Mathrubhumi News
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) has issued an order to file a case against the Pink Police officer who humiliated an eight-year-old girl and her father by accusing of stealing her mobile phone. The order also bats for special training for police officers on how to behave with children.
The incident occurred on August 27, when 38-year-old Jayachandran and his daughter were out on the main road here near Attingal to watch the movement of a huge trailer carrying equipment to the ISRO unit. Rejitha, the woman officer, upon finding her mobile missing, accused Jayachandran, who was standing near the police patrol vehicle, of stealing it. She even said that he must have passed the mobile to his eight-year-old daughter. The officer publicly humiliated the father and the daughter and threatened to take both of them to the nearby police station. This was witnessed by a large crowd. Later, Rejitha spotted the mobile phone inside the vehicle itself. The entire episode was filmed by an onlooker. The video was uploaded on social media and was widely shared, evoking flak from netizens.
KeSCPCR, while probing the matter, had called up the father-daughter duo and others. Rejitha should be booked under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, the panel ordered after the probe. The order also directs that police officers should be properly trained on how to behave with children. In this regard, a project should be devised, said the order.
KeSCPCR has pointed out that the conduct of the Pink Police officer caused mental trauma to the girl. The remedy to fix that should be initiated at the state government level.
According to the order, a report on the implementation of the suggestions has to be submitted within 30 days.
The order has noted that departmental action against the official is not enough. Despite the grave act, the official was only transferred and it is just a normal disciplinary action in the police department, the order flagged. In an instance of this kind, stringent actions should be taken, it reminded.
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