The past one year’s crime records have thrown up alarming statistics for North West Delhi district. Cumulative data revealed out that around 209 people were arrested for heinous crimes such as murder, attempt to murder and robbery, out of which 31 percent were CCLs (Child in Conflict with Law).
An alarmed police force decided that quick action was needed to stop the numbers from rising. They also realised that the root cause of the problem was social. Hence, without wasting any time, they launched ‘Operation Badlaav’, a month-long drug de-addiction programme under the central government’s vision of ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’, to eradicate crime and usage of drugs and illegal substances from the lives of young children.
ECONOMIC STATUS MAKE THEM VULNERABLE
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), NW Delhi District, Usha Rangnani said that the children who are involved in such crimes lack the right guidance, and they are more vulnerable because of their economic status.
“They become easy victims of crime and also get involved in criminal activities because they are young and do not have enough money and the right mental status to focus on the right things. Moreover, there are many Jhuggi-Jhopri (JJ) clusters in areas like Jhangir Puri, Aadarsh Nagar etc., where lower-income group families live. The parents have less education exposure and, hence, they fail to guide their children to the right path,” she said.
OPERATION BADLAAV TO CHANGE MINDSET
This is why Operation Badlaav was launched in the Jahangirpuri area on Dec. 22 last year, under the leadership of DCP, North-West, and all the SHOs were specifically briefed to identify people involved in drug trafficking in their respective areas and take strict action.
Besides this, special awareness drives were initiated at various places in which residents took active part. It included drug awareness seminars, counselling sessions, nukkad-nataks and sensitization programmes. Special counselling sessions were organized in Jahangirpuri and Lal Bagh areas, where there is a tendency in the youth to being inclined towards the crime world.
Here, the youths were counseled to stay away from the company of criminals and anti-social elements and not to imitate hatred videos, and instead channelize their energy towards sports activities and skill training.
BRUTAL CASE
Giving an example, Ms. Rangnani cited a brutal case which was committed in North West Delhi district this year. A gang of three young boys below the age of 18 were involved in a murder case of an innocent person of 24 years who was not even known to them.
She said, “The act was committed by these young boys just to establish themselves in the crime world and to be known as fearless members of ‘Badnam Gang’. They recorded their brutal act with intent to post it on social media, for others to see their daring act. However, the police got it deleted immediately.”
After arresting the young boys, the police also requested the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) to try them as adults considering the brutality shown by them. The request was approved by the JJB and now the trial is being conducted in the session court.
“It also sets an example for other juveniles, as we always tell them that the crimes they commit will be punished for sure, and age is not an advantage for committing such heinous crime, rather, it should be used for some constructive purpose,” Ms. Rangnani said.
SKILL TRAINING
Over the past one year, North-West Delhi Police has been making continuous efforts to bring vulnerable youths to the mainstream by providing them skill training in various sectors in association with various hospitals and companies, to generate employment opportunities for them under the ‘Yuva Scheme of Delhi Police’.
More than 500 vulnerable youths have been provided skill training till now, and out of them, around 80 were given suitable placements. The objective is to wean them away from criminal activities or drug abuse and get them back to mainstream society.
A large number of youths participated in the ‘Operation Badlaav’ campaign and joined hands with the North-West District Police to eradicate the menace of drug abuse and its consumption, and promised to steer their life towards more meaningful, socially acceptable and productive pursuits.
