Growing Grooming Gangs – Dangers & security Protection – C Pal singh

1. Introduction

Origin – The word “Grooming Gangs” came into prominence when in 2011 (The Times – London) published a series of investigation reports & articles on sexual exploitation of minors – particularly the girls – by some Criminal gangs in England. Everyone was at that time scared to directly address and label the ethnicity factor of these gangs. About 1400 children as young as 11yrs old have been exploited and groomed for sexual relationships between 1197 to 2015 in England.

• Mode of Operation

It was found during investigation that these Grooming gangs invariably came in touch with young children especially girls at public places like Libraries, Town Centers, Shopping Malls & then gradually groomed them and attracted them towards one person in the gang. During this friendship period they also gradually made these children addicted to alcohol and other drugs. Once the intimacy was created the gang members started having sexual relationships. Another important point in this relationship was to create a feeling in the child/girl that in case she was really in love with one member of the gang, she should prove her love to that member of the grooming group by having relationships with his other friends and members of the gang.

• Ethnicity

The investigation reports indicated that the grooming gang members belonged to Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan. Most of them also had criminal backgrounds and had been imprisoned sometime. Pakistan & other countries objected to the reports that they belonged to these Muslim countries and attributed this charge to the lurking fear & islamophobic attitude of these Western countries. 

Subsequently the reports from the UK started labeling these Grooming gangs of Asian origin. However, Elon Musk, the world’s richest man of Social Media, strongly criticized the attitude of the British Govt. who had started labeling such gangs by using the phrase the “Asian Grooming Gangs”. This opened the flood gates of debates. During these debates and counter arguments it was also mentioned as to why the Grooming gangs could not be labeled under the Hinduphobia or Christianphobia. The Muslim ethnicity attributed to these gangs was an Islamophobic and xenophobic mindset resulting in labeling these gangs of Muslim countries.

However, the United Kingdom has created a new police task force to go after these gangs.

• INDIAN CONTEXT

1. According to the Oxford English Dictionary – the word “Grooming” is used in the cases of a Paedophilia, who starts creating friendship with a child, indulges in Molestation & sexual abuse of the child. 

• Grooming gangs in India

Grooming gangs, often operating as organized groups, engage in the systematic exploitation and sexual abuse of minor children. This issue, though often underreported due to societal stigmas, has been a growing concern in India. 

Grooming involves gaining the trust of minors, manipulating them emotionally, and then subjecting them to various forms of sexual abuse. These gangs frequently target vulnerable children from underprivileged backgrounds or those lacking adequate family support, making it difficult for victims to escape or report the abuse.

5. Some sensational cases in India that pertain to sexual offences committed against minor girls are given below-

1. Kathua Rape Case (2018) – An 8-year-old girl from a nomadic community in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, was kidnapped, raped, and murdered. The case gained national attention due to the heinous nature of the crime.

• Shakti Mills Gang Rape (2013) – In Mumbai, a minor photojournalist was gang-raped at the deserted Shakti Mills compound.

• Unnao Rape Case (2017) – A minor girl from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh was raped. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigations of this case.

• Muzzafarpur Shelter Home Case (2018) – Several minor girls were groomed and sexually abused at a shelter home.

• Hyderabad Gang Rape case (2022) – In May 2022, the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Hyderabad, sparked outrage across Telangana and India.The minor girl was groomed and taken to pub and sexually abused. 

6. Child grooming is generally unsuspected as the practice of befriending, forming an emotional bond with Children is easier. The ultimate objective of such bonding is sexual abuse. 

7. With the advent of child grooming gangs in India, there is a need to take stringent measures. It is reported that normally Grooming gangs operate on the Internet. With the advancement of the Internet, child grooming & sexual exploitation of minor girls in particular have increased. 

The reasons for the use of the Internet by these gangs are varied.

1. The ease with which these groomers can operate on the internet.
2. The anonymity provided by use of Internet and Social media 
3. Growing drug addiction in the children
4. Difficulties experienced by parents to monitor the activities of the children on Internet
5. Abundance of Social media available on Internet
6. The capability of children to operate easily on the Internet & befriend persons on Social media.

8. Prevailing Indian Laws – India

1. POCSO 

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 is an Indian law aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. Section 13 and Section 14 of the POCSO Act pertain to these aspects.

1. Section 13: This section deals with the use of a child for pornographic purposes, including storing or distributing child pornography electronically or otherwise.

• Section 14: This section addresses the use of a child for online sexual abuse or exploitation. It covers acts like persuading, inducing, or coercing a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

POCSO aims to protect children from various forms of sexual exploitation. This act lays down stringent penalties for individuals involved.

• Information Technology Act – It is intended to regulate and penalize the distribution of obscene content through electronic means.

• Section 67: Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.

Offence: Publishing or transmitting any material that is lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest, or if its effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it.

• Section 66 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 in India deals with computer-related offences.

Thus India has stringent lawsto combat child sexual abuse. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, is the primary legislation that provides a robust framework for the protection of children against sexual offenses.

It covers a wide range of abuses, including sexual harassment, and pornography, with strict punishments.

9. Other measures

In addition to stringent operation of Laws against the offences specified in various Acts, some other measures need to be taken by society at large.

1. Facebook Act – Amendment is needed regarding the expression in the text of Section IV Clause 6 of the Facebook Act which provides a statement of Rights and responsibilities.

• Role of Police and other Private security groups to create cautiousness in the society at large regarding the menace of these Grooming gangs to protect their children from the child grooming gangs. 

• The senior citizens security culture initiative recently launched by Security groups should educate the parents to monitor the activities of their children. The Social media policies which are also conducive to child participation on Social media networking should be known to the senior citizens.

• The minimum age restriction to permit the children to create an account on Social media at the minimum age of 13yrs is either not followed or is regularly flaunted by children telling lies about their age. This needs to be checked by parents and senior citizens.

• The laws against grooming need to be explicitly and clearly recognised as an offence in India. The legislation should clearly formulate a definition on “Grooming” to avoid any ambiguity.

• The rise of the internet and social media has further exacerbated the problem, providing new avenues for perpetrators to contact and exploit children. Many of these grooming gangs use online platforms to lure minors, often pretending to be friends or peers, before coercing them into sexual activities.

10. Available and Recommended Remedies

1. Fast-Track Courts

To ensure swift justice, the government has established fast-track courts for the speedy trial of sexual abuse cases. This helps in reducing the prolonged trauma for victims. However the functioning of these courts need to be brought under independent judicial scrutiny.

2. Childline Services

The 24×7 toll-free helpline (1098) should provide immediate assistance to children in distress. 

3. Awareness Campaigns

Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should run campaigns to educate children about the dangers of grooming gangs and empower the children with knowledge as to how to react to luring moves from such malicious elements.

4. Rehabilitation Programs

Victims of child sexual abuse require long-term psychological support. Various NGOs and government bodies should provide counseling and rehabilitation programs.

5. Community Policing

Involving the community and leaders of the private security industry in policing efforts that can help in identifying and reporting suspicious activities related to grooming gangs.

6. Cyber Policing

Given the rise in online grooming, enhancing cyber policing capabilities to track and intercept their predatory behavior on digital platforms.

GENERAL

1. Addressing the problem of grooming gangs in India requires a multi-faceted approach involving legal reforms, community involvement, education, and technological intervention. Combating this menace is essential for safeguarding their future. The psychological and physical trauma inflicted on victims is profound and long-lasting, affecting their mental health, education, and social relationships. The societal stigma attached to sexual abuse in India often silences victims and their families, preventing them from seeking justice.

• International organizations should frame out terminology guidelines for the protection of children from sexual exploitation & abuse. The guidelines should clearly define the process of grooming gangs. 

• India should adopt a suitable definition of Grooming so that the population at large understands the word and implications of “Grooming of children”.

• At present the legal provisions are mostly in the domain of “Cure than Preventive”. The necessity of defining and laying down additional legal provisions to prevent the growing menace of Grooming should be clearly laid down. 

• The Govt. could form a special task force including some senior police officers, legal officers and leaders of the private security industry to effectively tackle the growing menace of Grooming gangs & sexual abuse of children.