Chhindwara minors remanded to reform home over ‘inappropriate touch’

Bhopal: In a disturbing incident, seven boys, aged between 8 and 11 years, were sent to a juvenile reform home after they allegedly subjected their 7-year-old friend to inappropriate touching during a family function in Chhindwara district, police said, adding that exposure to adult and inappropriate social media content or reels may have abetted the crime.The incident took place on Sunday evening in the Kundipura police station area, where some families had gathered for a function and the children were playing together.According to police, the boys allegedly lured a girl to a secluded spot behind a house on the pretext of playing before touching her inappropriately. The child raised an alarm, prompting the boys to flee.The girl later reported the alleged incident to her mother, following which her family lodged a complaint at the women’s police station.Police registered a case, sent the girl for a medical examination and detained all seven minors.The investigators said during counselling, the minors disclosed they frequently watched reels and short videos on mobile phones.According to the police, the children had also been exposed to explicit and semi-nude content online, which they believe may have contributed to the unhealthy curiosity that eventually translated into the alleged inappropriate touch.

Speaking to TOI, Aruna Mahaney, the women’s police station in-charge, said, “All the minors, including the victim, are school-goers from the same locality. During counselling, the children confessed to browsing reels on phones. It is quite possible that consuming such online content developed a curiosity in them, which eventually led to the incident. They are all just children, with the eldest being an 11-year-old.

All were sent to a reform home.”An officer said the minors were produced before the competent authority before being remanded to a juvenile home, adding that counsellers were involved in the process.