“We want justice for our daughter. This is not only about her but every other child who has endured such violence”, said the father of a 4-year-old who was kidnapped and then brutally murdered by Irfan Khan (34). The accused was reportedly a distant acquaintance of the family.
Irfan, a father of two was apprehended by the police on 23 July, from K R Market. According to the police, he is a repeat offender who has been booked for offenses including pickpocketing, mobile theft, and vehicle snatching. The accused was caught with the help of CCTV footage from outside the victim’s house, which helped identify him.
Irfan caught near the victim’s house, on CCTV footgae
The victim’s father and the police have confirmed that he picked up the victim on 20 July while she was playing outside her house in Magadi and took her approximately 15-16 kilometers away, near Thippagondanahalli dam, where he assaulted and later, murdered her. The child’s body was discovered on 24 July, at around 3 am from said location.
Preliminary investigations have confirmed that the child was subjected to sexual assault before being mercilessly strangled by the accused.
In a conversation with News Hamster, the victim’s father has revealed that the accused is a drug addict and alcoholic, and has allegedly committed these crimes while being under the influence.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for stringent action against perpetrators of such heinous crimes. While a POCSO case has been registered against the accused, outraged citizens and the victim’s family have taken to the streets to demand swift justice. On 24 July, a protest was held near Town Hall in Bengaluru, with demonstrators carrying placards and raising slogans against sexual violence.
Protest at Town Hall on 24 July
This case adds more gravity to the recent rise in registered cases of sexual offenses against children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, 2012, in Bengaluru. Despite this increase, the city’s special POCSO courts have slowed in case resolution in 2024, leading to longer waits for justice for young victims. Courts are mandated to record victim statements within a month and ideally complete trials within a year, but these targets are often not met.
Data from the five special fast-track POCSO courts in Bengaluru shows a significant drop in case resolution rates in 2024. Only 15 out of 216 charge-sheeted cases (7%) have been resolved so far, compared to a 43% resolution rate in 2023, 81% in 2022, 84% in 2021, and 82% in 2020. This decrease is partly due to the absence of a presiding officer or judge in one of the five courts for three months between March and May 2024.
According to Bengaluru police data, 298 POCSO cases were reported in the city as of June 30, 2024. Previous years saw 592 cases in 2023, 482 in 2022, 401 in 2021, and 286 in 2020. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows Bengaluru registered 408, 393, and 350 POCSO cases in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. A senior Karnataka police officer noted that awareness of the POCSO law, which came into effect around 2013, has steadily increased, leading to more registered cases, though there are concerns about misuse.
In a high-profile POCSO case in Bengaluru in March 2024, former Chief Minister Yediyurappa is accused of sexually assaulting a minor. The CID police filed a chargesheet on June 27, and a POCSO fast-track court took cognizance on July 6, issuing a summons to the accused. However, the Karnataka High Court exempted the former CM from appearing in court after he and three others challenged the chargesheet.
Delays in POCSO cases are often caused by procedural issues, despite a 2021 directive from the Karnataka High Court mandating swift justice. Long waiting periods in court complexes are considered inhumane, as victims and their families often wait in proximity to the accused.
Please note that this is a developing story.
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