LUCKNOW: With a 15-year-old boy being arrested for raping a minor, the number of cases of children in conflict with law in Lucknow district rose to 31 in 2018. Last year, 70 such cases had been reported.Experts say that unlimited exposure to internet, television, gadgets and poverty are main factors that push minors into the world of crime.Maximum cases of children being in conflict with law have been of theft, followed by rape and burglary. This year, the city has witnessed three incidents of minors being accused of raping minors.In 2017, five gangs of children involved in auto theft and break-ins were busted.Child welfare committee member Sangeeta Sharma told TOI, “Children from lower and lower-middle-class are prone to taking to crime. They see well off kids using costly gadgets and want them for themselves too but don’t have the money.”Blaming excessive exposure to internet and television for increasing children taking to crime, she said, “They imitate what they see on screen. Around 79% of children in conflict with law are boys.”SP (rural) Gaurav Grover said that parents must keep a check on what their children watch on TV. “Serials like ‘Savdhan India’ and ‘Crime patrol’ have done more harm than good. The eulogising of criminals on screen lure them to crime,” Kumar said.P K Khatri, a psychologist, said, “Lack of ideals is the basic reason for spurt in criminal tendency among teens today. Parents don’t interact with children now so there is no outlet of emotions and feelings. They seek refuge in company of their friends and end up taking the wrong path.”Unicef defines the term ‘children in conflict with law’ as anyone under 18 who comes into contact with the justice system as a result of being suspected or accused of committing an offence.

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