A home for militant kids
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 23, 2014 -
At a time when human rights groups around the globe are pushing for greater protection of children in armed conflict zones including Manipur, the arrest of five juvenile inmates from a juvenile home run by the State Government at Takyel here has come as a piece of news which is quite shocking to even think over it.
These five juveniles who are in the age group of 11 to 14 years were arrested by the police after they were found involved in extorting money from the people and school authorities at the behest of an armed militant group, which is supposedly fighting for the 'cause of the people'.
Police have also recovered one hand grenade and four mobile phones used by these kids in carrying the 'task' assigned to them by the militant group during a search at the 'home'.
Of the five children, three of them were said to be actively involved in their extortion activities of targeting schools and contractors while the two others have been just initiated into the 'task'.
While this incident has shown to what extent the children could be vulnerable in a State like Manipur where taking up arms in the name of public cause is becoming one of the most lucrative businesses, at the same time, it has also raised some serious questions on the manner of running the lone Juvenile Home or correctional centre for delinquent children in the State by the State Social Welfare Department.
From the 'shocking' news report, it has come to light that some cadres of KCP-Noyon armed group were arrested by the security personnel sometime earlier.
As one of the arrestees was a juvenile and he has to be dealt under the Juvenile Justice Act, he was send to the correctional home.
But instead of bringing about any corrective changes in the behaviour and conduct of the delinquent child, the Government run Juvenile Home at Takyel has only come to serve as the perfect ground for the arrested 'militant kid' to hunt for his partners in carrying out the assigned task of extorting money from the public and school authorities at the behest of the militant group even more easily.
From the way the militant kid had been able to befriend at least four other juvenile inmates and exercise his influence on them within such a short time, one could understand how the lone juvenile home in the State is being run.
There is enough sign of inefficiency and negligence written all over on the part of officials and staffs employed in the lone juvenile home in performing their duties, if at all, they are performing their duties.
It is not understandable how an under-trial juvenile inmate could be allowed to mix up with other inmates without any restriction or keeping an eye on their growing friendship.
The fact that all the five arrested inmates have been able to come out of the supposedly well-guarded 'home' not once or twice, but many times, to serve extortion notes also shows that the officials and the staffs employed have not been able to ensure the right kind of environment for a correctional home, which, of course, is never a place for the juvenile inmates to play around with hand grenades or with mobile phones.
Such a home would only breed more young militants with or without instigation from any quarters, be it militants or otherwise.
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