Arunachal Governor Demands Faster Convictions in POCSO Cases

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) wants results. He chaired a high-level review at Lok Bhavan on June 27, demanding a total overhaul of how the state handles crimes against women and children. The focus remains squarely on the abysmal conviction rate for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Parnaik signaled that the current system is failing the most vulnerable. He argued that the Directorate of Prosecution needs more muscle to secure justice. He warned that these crimes leave victims with permanent trauma and gut the community's moral standing. Parnaik put it bluntly: "Every POCSO case represents a child whose trust, safety and future have been compromised."

The Governor is pushing for a "Whole of State" approach to fix the broken process. Law enforcement cannot do this alone. He wants Gaon Buras, schools, and parents to step up. District officials and police chiefs received orders to attack the issue in mission mode. Police officials also presented Project Abhaya, an initiative aimed at building trust and community vigilance.