The Special Wing for Crime Against Women and Children (CAWC) and the Department of Social Defence have launched an awareness campaign on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act to prevent offences against children.
R. Lalvena, Commissioner, Social Defence, said the idea was to catch the attention of the public by highlighting the punishment for offences, which under the Pocso can even be death sentence.
“In Pocso cases, the perpetrators are predominantly men. Hence, we want to target places where men assemble, like salons and tea shops,” he said.
Highlighting that a number of Pocso cases resulted from elopement where the girl is under 18 years of age, he said it was important to send the message that it did not matter whether the sexual act was consensual.
Chennai police said that while a total of 252 cases were registered under Pocso Act in 2019 in the city, 2020…