BANGALORE: While the city remains shocked at the heinous crimes being committed against children, experts say the situation points to a more serious tendency.
“Perpetrators now have no fear of the consequences or the law. There are very few arrests and even fewer convictions,” said Dr Shaibya Saldana, a child psychiatrist.
Also, the fact that the victim is a child makes them feel powerful, she added. “Children rarely complains or talks about such incidents. It is easy to threaten them.”
Dr Chandrashekhar of Bangalore Medical College said sexual abuse against children has always been prevalent. “It is only now that many are coming out and even talking about them. Earlier even if the children complained, parents used to hush them up fearing humiliation,” he said.
He cautioned against normalising crime. “In movies, stories and day-to-day events, violence and crimes are becoming common. Most people who commit crimes feel it is normal to do so,” he said. He blamed the reach of internet for more people coming to know of child pornographic films.
Dr Saldana said the number of people watching child pornography has increased. “What earlier used to shock and disgust people has now become a source of entertainment and is fulfilling sexual pleasures.”