UKHRUL: Sexual crime against children long occupied a legal blind spot in India despite reported cases of abuse rising steadily over the years. It is a stark indictment of the system that the most vulnerable in the society was neglected, lacking necessary legal protection for decades. This neglect was persistent until 2012 when sustained pressure from child rights organizations and courts compelled the state to acknowledge the scale of the crisis.
The enactment of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 marked a crucial shift. For the first time, India adopted a comprehensive, gender-neutral, and child-friendly legal framework to address sexual violence against minors. The Act criminalises all forms of sexual assault, harassment, and exploitation of children below 18 years of age, prescribing punishments ranging from three years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment or, in aggravated cases, death penalty.
Throughout 2025, across the Northeast multiple cases registered and prosecuted under the POCSO Act depict that it has become the most frequently invoked law in cases involving crime against children. It is also to note that widespread sexual abuse occurs within families and schools by known persons reflecting disturbing prevalence and silence surrounding such offences.
Increased reporting, driven by community awareness and legal clarity, signals a growing willingness to confront a crime once shrouded in denial.
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Naoshinaoli khamathang khamarang otsak tandi eina kasa zingkum kachida mataisangmeisalala kasangkhawuivang ain na mathada mayangsangmisa mana. Ithum miyurwuili ngazanmeithui kachi bingli nothahawa kala athumna darkar kasa ain khalattali ngāk khavai maleisamana. Zatvamamanda 2012 li child rights organizations kala courtna ngararmamanda, state nala khavathi phaptahaowa.
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 na ithumli khangachei kachungkha khuiramiya. Indiali khare sada, tharzari eina zingkum 18wui azingli khalei, mayarnao-shinao makhaila, mina athumli khayon khamang sakhahai tharan ngākmi khavai ain shemshokmi haowa. Hiwui ain athisurda, naoshinao li rekakhrek, tandi eina khamathang khamarang otsaka kasa, kala chipatlakha mamashungla kasa saikora hiwui vang ainwui athisurda phaptophimli 3yrs eina haophoklakha mirinpeidala zangpam paiya kala kathi tandi la shokpaiya.
2025, zingkup peida Northeastli naoshinao wui case POCSO ACT wui alungli misanga, hina kachitheiva POCSO na naoshinao wui caseli singmeithui kachi ain na. Ithumna theikachiva, hikatha khamathang khamarang otsak naoshinaoli kashok hi shimkhurmibing, aworshim kala shimkhurna katheimi wui eina shokzara chiwuivang eina ngathumkahai la shokapa.
Police li khayon khamang vakahang kala yur nala hikatha ain leiya da kathei hina reikasang kala mashun samphang ngasakra.
(This article is part of the series Understanding the Law, Accessing Justice (Ain phapkata eina mashun samkaphang). Since this series challenges the exclusivity of legal language, it will also include Tangkhul translations. As a Tangkhul writer, I believe if legal knowledge is meant for everyone, it must be available in the languages people think, feel, and navigate life in. Accessibility cannot be preached without being practiced.)