Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR) in Collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, organised a One Day Awareness Programme on "Child Rights & Child Protection" at the Conference Hall of the Commissioner’s office, Dimapur on 31st October, 2025.
Chairman NSCPCR, NCS RTD, Alung Hangsingh in his key note address said that the 3 district- Niuland, Chumoukedima and Dimapur is a cosmopolitan Town where different cultures converge and with advent of technology things are becoming complicated and challenging particularly for police officers who are dealing with child abuse cases and children in conflict with law. As a police officer, they must be well versed with IPC, CRPC but when it comes to POSCO Act or JJ Act, there are certain ways of dealing which may slightly differ with the normal way of dealing with criminals. He cited that due to the advancement of technology, information are disseminate so fast these days, and it has become important for us to be very conscious in dealing properly with such cases
Reminding that the children are the backbone of the nation, he questioned, how far are we actually implementing to reach the target of making the children as the backbone of the nation. Hence the role of policing and police officers becomes very important, their presence gives our children a sense of security. Asserting that the Commission is trying to reach every nook and corner of the state by organising such programs, he said it started from the SP office, Kohima and this is the third meeting with the police officers. He hopes that this interaction will help the police officers to pick up something from this session.
DCP, HQ, Ruth Murru, NPS in her address thanked the Commission for organising such an awareness program. She stated that no matter how much legislation we may have with many statutory bodies existing, unless and until the laws are made aware, to undertake, to empower or capacitate the Stakeholders, those legislation and existence of the statutory bodies itself become useless exercise. She therefore said, such awareness is an important step for making the legislation and the bodies that exist effective.
She pointed out that, this program is particularly targeted for the police community, as police are the important stakeholder where delivery of justices and protection of children is concerned. She thanked the Commission for choosing their department and coming to educate, empower and strengthen them in their participation to deliver the justice and protection of children. She urged the participants and police personnel and officers to take this opportunity to empower and strengthen themselves and try to clarify their confusion regarding the laws or difficulties they faced in the field while implementing the laws.
Speaking as a resource person, Legal Consultant, NSCPCR, Lichani Murry, highlighted the objective of Juvenile Justice Act, where she said that the Act creates a legal framework for the protection of the rights of all children whether alleged or found to be in conflict with law or children in need, care and protection. The legal foundation of child protection in India is below 18 years of age. He was speaking on the topic “The Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act with regards to police unit”
She also stressed on the role of children conflict with Law; Children in need of care and protection; Child friendly procedures; role of special juvenile Police unit who plays a very important role in implementing child friendly approach; Dos and Don'ts of procedure at police Station; and records of conviction to be kept in safe custody till the expiry of the period of appeal or a period of seven years and thereafter be destroyed by Board or children's court.
Speaking on the topic “Understanding the POCSO Act: Role of Police in Ensuring Timely Justice”, Member of NSCPCR, Akumla Longchari, who spoke as the resource person highlighted that POCSO Act was enacted in 2012, it is a gender-neutral law for protecting from pornography. The Act mandates child friendly procedures in reporting, investigation, and trial to minimize trauma and avoid re- victimization. She also spoke on the six types of sexual offences under the Act-Penetrative Sexual Assault (Sec. 3); Sexual Assault (Sec. 7); Sexual Harassment (Sec. 11); Using child for Pornographic Purposes (Sec. 13); Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault (Sec. 5); Aggravated Sexual Assault (Sec. 9).
She further informed on the role of police; child friendly procedures; Reporting; Time bound investigation; Dos and Don'ts under POSCO; challenges and landmark judgements under the POSCO Act that exemplify successful investigation leading to convictions.
The Moderator of the program was Aying Wangsha, Member, NSCPCR. The program culminated with a vote of thanks delivered by Tiakala Ao, NPS ADCP, Women & Juvenile.
(Tovikali, IA, Dimapur)
