Nandapur: A surge in violent and criminal behaviour among teenagers across the tribal-dominated Koraput district has raised serious concerns, marked by a disturbing series of incidents over the past two months.
The cases in July and August include some classmates attacking hostel inmates at Padua Higher Secondary School in Nandapur block, injuring at least six students; recovery of the body of a student who had been missing for three days from a hostel in Borigumma; murder of a student with knives in Jeypore and calling a student outside the school before stabbing him in Bariniput.
Other incidents reported during the period include a minor student from Dasamantpur allegedly shooting a man to death, the death of a student during a clash among students in Panchada area, and minors entering a house and threatening a couple of dire consequences in Phampuni.
The reported use of intoxicant injections by minors in the Sunabeda-Semiliguda area has also raised concern.
Law enforcement reports indicate that minors are increasingly being linked to theft, murder, cannabis smuggling, motorcycle heist, robbery, and suicide-related incidents.
The growing use of intoxicant injections among teenagers in the Sunabeda-Semiliguda belt has further alarmed local authorities.
Mental health professionals, intellectuals, and concerned parents point to a combination of psychological, social, and environmental factors driving this behavioural shift.
Experts highlight that exposure to adult offenders often draws impressionable youth toward serious crime.
Family problems, frequent quarrels at home and parental neglect can also contribute to aggressive behaviour.
Experts also said poor peer influence can push minors toward criminal activities, highlighting the need for greater parental supervision, counselling and community intervention.
Koraput’s residential schools provide education, accommodation, food, and sports facilities alongside routine counselling to foster youth development. However, administrators acknowledge that stronger measures are required.
“Despite available facilities and ongoing efforts, the rising trend of juvenile violence is deeply alarming,” said Sunil Kumar Tandi, District Welfare Officer, Koraput.
“We have directed residential school authorities to intensify counselling sessions for all students,” he added.
Gayatri Devi, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Koraput, emphasised that smartphones and changing social dynamics play a major role in these behavioural shifts.
Addressing the legal framework, Devi clarified: “Under Indian law, children aged 7 to 12 are generally not held criminally responsible due to developing mental maturity.
However, for serious or heinous offences involving minors aged 16 to 18, mental and physical maturity can be formally assessed during the juvenile justice process.”
Dadhibaman Daria, a psychiatrist at Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital, emphasised the path forward: “Helping juveniles who have gone astray requires a strong combination of family support, community-level intervention, and timely psychological treatment.”