NEW DELHI: Assault by juveniles on woman to outrage her modesty saw a 132 per cent increase and rapes committed by juveniles witnessed an increase of 60.3 per cent last year.
The report of the National Crime Records Bureau said the highest increase in the incidents of crimes committed by juveniles in 2013 was reported under assault on woman to outrage her modesty - 132.3 per cent - followed by insult to the modesty of women - 70.5 per cent and rape - 60.3 per cent.
Among the total juveniles apprehended under IPC, 66.3 per cent belonged to the age group of 16-18 years.
A total of 31,725 criminal cases involving juveniles were reported last year in comparison to 27,936 cases reported in 2012 -- an increase of 13.6 per cent.
Last year, the highest number of juveniles were apprehended for thefts (7,969) followed by hurt (6,043) and burglaries (3,784). These heads taken together accounted for 40.9 per cent of total juveniles apprehended under IPC crimes.
Out of the total juveniles (43,506) involved in various crimes, 8,392 were illiterate and 13,984 had education up to primary level.
These two categories together accounted for 51.9 per cent of the total juveniles arrested during the year 2013. A large number of juveniles (50.2 per cent) belonged to the poor families whose annual income was up to Rs 25,000.
Children living with parents (35,244 persons) have accounted for 81.0 per cent of the total juveniles apprehended for committing various crimes during 2013.
Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi had favoured treating juveniles accused of heinous crimes like rape on par with adult offenders.
She said 50 per cent of all sexual crimes were committed by "16-year-olds who know the Juvenile Justice Act so they can do it".
"But now for premeditated murder, rape, if we bring them into the purview of the adult world, then it will scare them," she had said.