50% criminals arrested in Ranchi city are juveniles

RANCHI: Juvenile crime is on the rise in the city, with the police saying 50% of people arrested for criminal activities in the past few days were minors.

A police officer said the desire to have costly mobile phones, expensive bikes and lead an easy life were among other factors for minors getting involved in crime.

Take the case of Akash (name changed), who was apprehended in a case of chain snatching. This 16-year-old boy wanted to give a costly gift to his girlfriend.

The city police on Wednesday launched a campaign to create legal awareness among students in schools, colleges and coaching centres.

“I hope that the step would help correct youngsters with criminal bend of mind,” Sadar DSP Vikas Chandra Srivastav said.

Ranchi police on Tuesday detained nine people, including six minors, in a road robbery case in Khelari area and recovered 12 mobile phones and a gold chain from their possession. A pistol and 2 motorcycles were also seized.

Two juveniles were apprehended for attempting to break an ATM of Punjab National Bank at Krishnapuri on Tuesday. Two juveniles were apprehended on August 7 for allegedly stealing of laptop, cell phone and other valuables from the house of an intelligence bureau officer in Kanke.

The police said minors have made small groups in various colonies and commit crime like theft whenever they get a chance. Hardened criminals were also using them for different crimes.

Siddharth Sinha, senior resident consultant of Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences, said: “A juvenile sees many things in life, which attract them. Many of them come from family with lower socio-economic strata. As a result, they are unable to attain them. It prompted them to illegal methods to fulfill desires.”

“Youth taking to substance abuse are more prone to crime. Some of them also have anti-social traits.”

POLICE SAID DESIRE TO HAVE COSTLY PHONES, EXPENSIVE BIKES AND LEAD AN EASY LIFE ARE DRIVING MINORS TO COMMITTING CRIMES