Nagaland NSCPCR, Dimapur Police hold awareness on child rights, protection

The Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR), in collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, organised a one-day awareness programme on “Child Rights and Child Protection” at the conference hall of the Commissioner’s Office, Dimapur, on October 31, 2025, a DIPR report stated.
Delivering the keynote address, NSCPCR chairman Alung Hangsing said Niuland, Chümoukedima and Dimapur were cosmopolitan towns where different cultures converged, and with the advent of technology, challenges in policing—particularly in dealing with cases of child abuse and children in conflict with law—had become more complex. While police officers were well versed with the IPC and CrPC, he said POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act required a more sensitive approach.
Citing the rapid spread of information through modern technology, Hangsing stressed the importance of handling child-related cases with caution and compassion. He reminded that children were the backbone of the nation and urged society to genuinely work toward safeguarding their welfare. He noted that the role of police officers was crucial, as their presence gave children a sense of safety and reassurance.
He informed that the Commission had been conducting similar outreach programmes across Nagaland, and that the Dimapur event was the third such interaction with police officers. He expressed hope that the awareness programme would enable participants to better understand legal procedures and strengthen their ability to deal with child-related cases.
DCP (HQ), Ruth Murru, in her address, thanked the Commission for organising the programme and emphasised that laws and statutory bodies would remain ineffective unless stakeholders were made aware and empowered. She said awareness initiatives like this were vital to ensure that legislations and institutions served their intended purpose. Murru said the programme was specifically designed for the police community, being a key stakeholder in ensuring justice and protection of children. She thanked NSCPCR for engaging directly with law enforcement and helping to educate and strengthen their capacity to deliver justice to children.
Legal Consultant, NSCPCR, Lichani Murry, speaking as a resource person, highlighted the objectives of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, which provides a legal framework for safeguarding the rights of all children under 18 years- whether in conflict with law or in need of care and protection.
Discussing “The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act with regard to police unit,” she underscored the importance of child-friendly procedures and the special role of the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) in handling such cases. She detailed the dos and don’ts for police officers, stressing the need for empathy and procedural care. She also explained that records of conviction must be safely maintained until the expiry of the appeal period or seven years, after which they must be destroyed by the Board or Children’s Court.
NSCPCR member Akumla Longchari, spoke on “Understanding the POCSO Act: Role of Police in Ensuring Timely Justice.” She said the POCSO Act, is a gender-neutral law to protect children from sexual offences and pornography. The Act mandates child-friendly procedures in reporting, investigation, and trial to minimise trauma and prevent re-victimisation.
She elaborated on the six types of sexual offences under the Act- Penetrative Sexual Assault (Sec. 3), Sexual Assault (Sec. 7), Sexual Harassment (Sec. 11), Using Child for Pornographic Purposes (Sec. 13), Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault (Sec. 5), and Aggravated Sexual Assault (Sec. 9). Longchari also highlighted the role of police in ensuring time-bound investigation, adherence to child-sensitive procedures, and the importance of landmark judgements that strengthened implementation of the law.
The programme was moderated by NSCPCR member Aying Wangsha, while the vote of thanks was delivered by ADCP (Women & Juvenile) Tiakala Ao.