People’s Democratic Party Leader and Constituency In-Charge of Habba Kadal, Arif Laigaroo, has expressed his outrage over the significantly increased number of cases of mistreatment and abuse of children in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Child abuse is a heinous crime that inflicts severe and long-lasting damage on the physical and mental well-being of children. Regrettably, Jammu and Kashmir has not been immune to this grave issue. It is distressing that child abuse continues to persist as a major concern in the region,” Laigaroo said in a media release.
He revealed that “recent statistics reveal an alarming increase in kidnapping and abduction incidents, while cases of child sexual abuse have doubled in the last two years. Our children are also subjected to mistreatment during security and cordon exercises, which are just as traumatizing. The safety and well-being of our children must be our utmost priority. It is devastating to discover that young lives are being shattered by acts of violence and exploitation, while the authorities and caregivers sit idle.”
Laigaroo said, “Addressing this critical issue necessitates collective efforts from all stakeholders. To ensure justice and protection for our children, stricter laws must be implemented, ensuring that individuals found guilty of child abuse face the full force of the law,” adding that “the safety of the region’s children is everyone’s business.”
