The New Nation - Internet Edition

INCIDENTS of juvenile crime have increased in Chittagong, according to a report published in newspapers. Similar trend has been noticed in other cities, towns as well as in rural areas. Youngsters have been involved in criminal activities including looting properties of people and damaging assets or snatching money and ornaments of women. Some juveniles use lethal weapons like guns and bombs to commit crime.

The affected people have gone to police stations for recovery of lost money and assets. They have also sought punishment of the juvenile criminals. Stories of over forty-seven children imprisoned for their involvement in crimes committed in Chittagong area have been told by the Senior Superintendent of Chittagong Jail.

The causes of the spread of juvenile crime are many. Youngsters of poor families who do not get adequate food and recreational support from their parents and guardians, and cannot get enrolled in schools due to lack of fiscal support try to obtain food from neighbours. They contact their friends in other families and take joint move to collect food and money from neighbours or from shops and stores in market places. Such juveniles go for commission of crime.

In such a context, members of the law-enforcing agencies have noted that some gang leaders use the juvenile members for committing organised crimes. They pay money to the youngsters and also provide arms and bombs plus other lethal weapons. Corrective measures should be taken by official agencies and social groups to provide food and education and also to create job opportunities for these youngsters before they turn into hardened criminals.

Those already arrested and awarded punishment have to be brought to correction centres for necessary treatment. The correction centres should be run by properly trained instructors for skills development of juveniles.