NASHIK: The number of juveniles involved in criminal activities in the city is witnessing an upward trend. From January 1 to October 31 last year, police found 206 juveniles violating the law. In the same period this year, police found 231 juveniles that translate to a 12% rise in the number.Juveniles are found in all kind of criminal activities from murder to rape, abduction, burglaries, robberies, arson, etc. In February this year, five Class X students slit the throat of a 17-year-old in Panchavati in broad daylight. Involvement of juveniles in burglaries and robberies has also become common.DCP Srikrishna Kokate said, "Targeting juveniles with criminal tendencies is a real challenge. Police often visit observation homes and spread awareness among juveniles found on the wrong side the law. Apart from this, an attempt is also made to counsel their parents to keep watch on their children."Kokate said that under the commissioner of police Ravinder Kumar Singal 's guidance, various programmes were undertaken to prevent juveniles from turning towards crime. Slum panchayats have been formed across the city. "If we find a student from slum scoring over 60-70% marks, he is felicitated. The aim is to encourage such children on the right track and also make them role models for the others in their slums," he said.A city-based psychologist said children often take to the wrong path, when they feel neglected by parents. It can also happen if one parent is addicted to drugs or if the child is brought up by a single parent. A constant watch on children during their growing years is essential. "Juveniles are sometimes a result of exploitation. Such juveniles get exploited when they come in contact with adult criminals who know that if juveniles are caught for certain types of crime, they may be able to evade arrest," said Umesh Nagapurkar , a city-based psychiatrist , said.Psychiatrists also said parents should always try to strike a right chord with their children and make an attempt to understand their world. On the other hand, they also said that in general the society was becoming violent and tolerance among people was becoming rare.

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