Amravati Child Welfare Panel Directs Police to Locate Minor Survivors Within 24 Hours The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Amravati district issued a directive on Friday urging local police to identify and present minor survivors from the Paratwada sexual abuse case within 24 hours. Despite intensified outreach efforts by authorities, no survivors have come forward, highlighting challenges in accessing victims due to social stigma and fear. The CWC cited provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act to emphasize the legal obligation to report minors requiring care and protection to the committee promptly. A joint team comprising the district child protection unit and women police officials conducted a second visit to Paratwada on Friday, but no survivors were found. CWC officials reiterated that minors cannot be compelled to come forward, as they remain hesitant to report abuse due to societal taboos. The exact number of minors involved remains unclear, though officials suspect only two of the eight identified survivors are below 18 years of age. District child protection officer Ajay Dable stated that attempts to contact identified victims have failed, with all phone numbers reportedly switched off. "None of the identified victims has come forward so far despite continuous efforts," Dable said, adding that teams are now trying to locate victims through community networks and home visits. He emphasized that the survivors’ statements are critical to strengthening the case, noting that police had filed an FIR independently but lacked the necessary testimonies to proceed.#amravati_district #paratwada #child_welfare_committee #ajay_dable #juvenile_justice_act
