Problems which may arise due to underage elopement was highlighted during a legal awareness programme on "POCSO Act, 2012" conducted by the District Legal Services Authority, Imphal West, under the aegis of Manipur State Legal Services Authority, in Imphal West, Monday.
The programme, which was held at Heritage Convent, Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Uripok, was led by A Guneshwar Sharma, District and Sessions Judge, Imphal West cum chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Imphal West.
Guneshwar explained the importance of understanding problems which may arise due to underage elopement, while Chongtham Momon Singh, advocate, Panel Lawyer, Imphal West, lecturer of LMS Law College, Chingmeirong, elaborated on various areas of POCSO Act, 2012.
Additional SP, Rattana Ngasepam explained in detail the functions and responsibilities of police to handle such crimes. She suggested the teachers to teach children the difference between ‘good touch and bad touch’. She asked teachers to mingle with children closely as far as possible to know their behavioural changes. She also suggested keeping a complaint drop box at school.
She said the POCSO Act is to protect children from all sexual abuse and the Act is gender neutral.
The programme concluded with an interactive session with the students, teachers and experts, including Janggoulen Haokip, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West cum Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Imphal West, and Rattana Ngasepam, additional Superintendent of Police, Investigative Units for Crime against Women (IUCAW), Imphal West.
Also Read: After 21 years, court convicts man for rape
