Hyderabad child rights activists welcomed the move by the Norway police by arresting an Indian couple, belonging to Guntur, for ‘maltreating’ their son. However, the activists were worried about the children’s separation from the parents, who were ignorant of the rules.
Activist Isibore Phillip said that if the arrest was made keeping in mind the best interests of the child, then no should have anything to complain about.
“Even our Juvenile Justice Act 2000 has a provision that says if any parent or guardian threatens or harms the child, the government can separate the child from them,” Mr Phillip said. “Since the couple was ignorant of the Act and was in another country, the children must not be separated from their parents,” he said.
Ramesh Shekar Reddy said: “We are still ignorant about the real reason for the arrest. However, this will be a lesson to parents. The same kind of judgement should be implemented in the state, as the number of child abuse incidents by parents are on the rise.”
V. Padmavathi, chairman of child welfare in Ranga Reddy district, said, “Indian couples living aboard should learn the rules and regulations of the foreign countries. I feel that going by their rules, the steps taken by the officials are right. However we are worried about the separation of the children from their parents.”