Children-friendly police station comes up in Palwal

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Palwal, September 3

The first children-friendly police station of Haryana has been opened in Palwal. Named “Baal Veer Thana”, it was inaugurated by Justice AK Mittal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 31.

The first-of-its-kind police station has been set up on the premises of the women’s police station near Agra Chowk here.

“The motive is to make children, who are victims of violence or crime, comfortable. And detach the trauma attached with a police station,” said Kavita Kamboj, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM)-cum-Secretary, District Legal Service Authority (DLSA).

The walls of the two-room premises have been decorated with pictures and wallpapers of Baal Veer, Chhota Bheem and Doremon, with a section having comics and books. Soft toys and games such as Ludo and carom board have been provided in the playroom.

“Police officers will don civilian dress so that children feel at home,” an official said, adding that friendly environment would help minors pour their heart out in describing things and recording statements about any incident they had faced or witnessed.

The DLSA evolved the concept of the children-friendly police station, while it took the help of an NGO, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, in setting it up.

“In March, 251 minors were produced in police stations of the district. This made us realise the problem and thought of opening a children-friendly police station,” Kamboj added.

“Justice Mittal has praised the initiative and called for more such efforts for the disposal of justice,” said AK Verma, District and Sessions Judge.