Juvenile Delinquency in Kashmir (A Special focus on Stone Pelting)

Juvenile delinquency is one of the most serious problems in present times in Kashmir. There is evidence of a universal increase in juvenile crime taking place especially in the conflict-ridden states and Kashmir is no exception. A study of juvenile delinquency is very vast and to study its various aspects is also very comprehensive and can be studied from various angles. The intensity and severity of juvenile offences are generally determined by the social, economic and cultural conditions prevailing in a society. The present study focuses on stone-pelting in Kashmir in which hundreds of juveniles are involved. The data obtained from lone Observation Home in Kashmir establishes that a large number of stone pelters in Kashmir were juveniles mainly till 2019. During the period between 2008 and 2016, prolonged protests in Kashmir provided a platform for the expression of discontent, thereby reducing the need for young boys to join militancy. It is believed that militants recruited a few dozen juveniles in Kashmir since 2016 and a good number among them were killed. Similarly, a major chunk of juveniles in conflict with law, who have been apprehended in recent years by the police and who were brought before juvenile justice boards (JJBs) in Kashmir were stone pelters. In the present study, 100 randomly chosen social investigation reports of those juveniles who were involved in stone-pelting submitted to Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) Srinagar were content analysed.