Thu Apr 17 17:46:50 UTC 2025: ## Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Highlights Alarming Trend in POCSO Cases
**Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh –** Andhra Pradesh Home Minister V. Anitha revealed a disturbing statistic today: approximately 80% of those accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act are under the age of 23, with 20% being minors themselves. Speaking at an awareness program for college students in Visakhapatnam, Ms. Anitha attributed this rise in crimes, particularly against women, to a lack of awareness surrounding relevant laws, including POCSO and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. She expressed concern over the involvement of minors in such cases and urged young people to avoid substance abuse and impulsive behavior that could jeopardize their futures. The program, which also featured addresses from Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.P. Raja Sekhar and Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi, aimed to educate students on these critical legal issues.
First Piper 