Childhood on the path of crime, 121.21% increase in the number of minors involved in rape in the capital.
Worrying: Childhood on the path of crime, 121.21% increase in the number of minors involved in rape in the capital.
Childhood, once identified with the school bell and the playground, is now being recorded in crime statistics. The 121.21 percent increase in heinous crimes like rape by minors in the capital Delhi is a sign of deep concern not only for law and order, but for the entire society. In the year 2024, 66 minors were caught on the charge of rape, whereas in 2025 this figure reached 146. The number of minors involved in all types of crimes has increased by 21.67 percent.
The data reveals the rapid decline of a significant portion of children, raising questions about where we have led our children. Not a day goes by without a newspaper report on juvenile crime. The Delhi Police, the government, and NGOs working for the betterment of children must seriously consider and address this issue.
These figures provided by Delhi Police are of cases registered under the Indian Code of Conduct (BNS) and IPC. There has been a 17.22 percent increase in the total crime in the cases of Delhi Police Act. While 2999 minors were caught under BNS and IPC in the year 2024, the number of minors caught in the year 2025 increased to 3649. In the total crime, 3270 minors were caught in the year 2024, while this figure reached 3833 in the year 2025.
Why are minors straying?
In the year 2025, crimes committed by minors in Delhi have suddenly become the focus of attention. The rise in crime has alerted the police. Several district police stations in Delhi are running programs to dissuade minors from crime. NGOs and psychiatrists are being involved in this effort. Minors are being rescued from the world of crime and placed in employment.
Loss of control at home and school:
Many children drop out of school and lack proper supervision at home. The busy lives of parents and the crumbling family structure are clearly impacting children’s behavior. Children exposed to bad company gradually drift toward crime, unbeknownst to their families.
Attraction and curiosity are natural during adolescence, but the readily available objectionable content on mobile phones and social media has a profound impact on children’s minds. They begin to take relationships, success, and fame for granted and make poor decisions to impress their peers. Delhi Police is taking several steps to remove minors from the world of crime. Along with the police, society also has a responsibility to prevent them from going astray. Delhi Police organizes rural competitions, anti-drug clubs, youth programs, and watchdog clubs for minors, as well as visits to slums. NGOs, psychiatrists, and teachers are also enlisted. -Devesh Chandra Srivastava, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), Delhi Police
