Bengaluru: Karnataka has recorded a steady rise in cases of sexual assault against minors over the past five years, with police data showing 15,578 cases involving minor girls registered between Jan 1, 2021 and July 31, 2026.The figures translate to an average of around seven to eight cases registered every day during the period, highlighting the scale of child sexual abuse in the state.According to Karnataka police data, 2,083 cases were registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in 2021. The number rose to 2,287 in 2022, 2,893 in 2023, 3,081 in 2024 and 3,099 in 2025. In the first seven months of 2026 alone, 2,135 cases were registered. The year-on-year rise has brought renewed attention to the need for greater awareness, early reporting and stronger support systems for children who experience sexual abuse.Bengaluru City recorded the highest number of cases in the state during the period, with 2,271 cases registered between 2021 and July 2026. It was followed by Shivamogga with 903 cases, Chikkaballapur with 832 and Hassan with 684 cases. Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Chikkaballapur and Hassan recorded more than 100 cases each year during the period, while the annual numbers in other districts remained below 100.Police officers, however, caution against interpreting higher registration figures simply as evidence of a higher incidence of abuse. Increased awareness about Pocso provisions and greater willingness to report offences can also result in more cases being registered, a senior IPS officer pointed out.——Most accused known to the survivorsOne of the most significant findings emerging from the police data and investigations is that children are frequently abused by people known to them. Additional director general of police (ADGP) R Hitendra told TOI: “We can say that 99.5% of the cases the accused are well known to the victim; he will be a friend, a neighbour, a relative, family friend or in some cases, the father himself,” he said. The finding underlines the importance of creating safe environments for children not only outside the home but also within familiar social and family networks.Awareness driving reportingThe increase in registered cases, according to police, is partly linked to greater awareness about sexual offences against children and the legal protection available to survivors. “The main reason for increasing cases is rising awareness about the crime. The cases in three districts — Shivamogga, Hassan and Chikkaballapur — are more due to increased awareness in those places,” Hitendra said. While the rise in reported cases is deeply concerning, higher registration can also indicate that more survivors and families are coming forward instead of keeping abuse hidden.Victim-centric approachPolice say their response to Pocso cases is increasingly focused on the safety and well-being of the child rather than solely on the accused or the investigation.“The investigations in these Pocso cases are more of victim-centric rather than accused-centric. That means, we ensure the victim feels safe and secure after the complaint is turned into an FIR,” Hitendra said. He also pointed to challenges that can arise during prosecution, particularly in cases involving teenage relationships and child marriage. “However, since teenage love affairs and child marriage is involved in many of the cases, the victim may not support the prosecution during trial,” he said.
