Inquiry holds B’gavi police officers guilty of lapses in Pocso case

Belagavi: An official inquiry has found serious lapses by police officers tasked with enforcing the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in Belagavi, revealing violations of mandatory legal procedures in a case involving a minor girl.According to an investigation report submitted to the Juvenile Justice Board under the Karnataka high court, three officers from the APMC police station — CPI Usman Awati, PSI SR Muttatti, and head constable Firoz Mujawar — were found guilty of dereliction of duty in their handling of the case.The inquiry was ordered by the Juvenile Justice Board and the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights after they took suo motu cognisance of media reports, including those published in TOI, which pointed to alleged lapses in cases involving abuse of minor girls within the APMC police station limits.Acting on directions from high court-monitored bodies, Belagavi city police commissioner Bhushan Borase assigned the inquiry to assistant commissioner of police J Raghu. Over the past week, ACP Raghu conducted a detailed investigation, recording statements from the victim and her mother, interacting with the NGO that supported the family, examining medical records, and reviewing police station documents.In his report to the police commissioner, the investigating officer concluded that the APMC police had failed to adhere to several mandatory provisions of the Pocso Act. The report highlighted negligence, unexplained delays, and a lack of sensitivity in dealing with a case involving a child.The findings have raised serious concerns about the enforcement of child protection laws and accountability within the police force. Confirming the report, commissioner Bhushan Borase acknowledged the lapses and stated that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the concerned officers under the Karnataka State Police (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules.Reacting to the development, P Susheela, an activist with Spandana Sansthe, a child rights organisation, described the lapses as "unfortunate," especially in cases involving abuse of minor girls. Such incidents, she said, erode public trust in the police and weaken systems meant to safeguard children.