KARACHI, Jan 2: As many as 1,615 cases of physical and sexual abuse were reported against children in prominent national and provincial newspapers in 2002.

568 children (boys and girls) were killed. There were 340 cases of rape, 287 of sodomy and 207 of severe injury.

The Madadgar police research revealed that crimes against children had increased last year as compared with 2001. In 2001, the print media reported 1,183 cases. Of these, there were 443 cases of murder, 149 of rape, 219 of sodomy and 189 of severe injury.

Of the 1,615 cases in 2002, 922 were committed against minor boys and the rest 693 against girls. In 2001 most of 764 cases of violence were reported against girls and 423 against boys.

The quarterly break-up of the cases shows that during the first quarter of the year 314 cases were reported, in the second 398, in the third 524 and in the last quarter 379 cases.

In January there were 99 cases, including 32 of murder, 18 of rape, 15 of sodomy and three of severe torture. In February, 96 cases: 40 of murder, 10 of rape, 21 of sodomy and nine of injury. In March, 119 cases were reported. Of these, 45 were murders, 20 rapes, 25 sodomy and 29 of injury.

141 cases in April, 50 murders, 23 rapes, 25 sodomy and 29 injury. 133 cases in May, 53 murders, 22 rapes, 18 sodomy and 23 injury. 124 cases were reported in June: 56 murders, 19 rapes, 28 sodomy and 10 of injury.

In July there were 213 cases: 57 murder, 62 rape, 33 injury and 47 sodomy. Of the 57 murders, two were killed after sodomy. 185 cases in August: 71 murder, 49 rape, 28 sodomy and 12 injury. In September 126 cases: 38 of murder, 38 of rape, 20 of sodomy and 12 of injury.

201 cases in October: 62 of murder, 42 of rape, 33 of sodomy and 30 of injury. November, 69 cases: 26 murder, 16 rape, 11 sodomy and five serious injury.

December: 109 cases: 37 of murder, 21 of rape, 16 of sodomy and 14 of injury against girls and boys.

The research revealed that most of the cases were reported in Punjab, 885 cases. There were 590 cases in Sindh, 119 in the NWFP 119 and 21 in Balochistan in 2002.-PPI