UP Court Awards Death Penalty to Couple for Abusing 33 Minor Boys

A sessions court in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced a couple to death for sexually abusing 33 minor boys over nearly ten years, calling the crime “rarest of the rare.” The court found that the accused not only assaulted the children but also filmed the abuse and allegedly circulated the videos online, turning exploitation into an organised racket. The verdict comes at a time when global conversations around child abuse have resurfaced following renewed attention to the Jeffrey Epstein case, underscoring the transnational nature of crimes involving minors.

The Banda case has forced uncomfortable questions into public view: Why do many boys not report sexual abuse? How does grooming work? And who consumes and spreads such material online?

While public perception in India often assumes girls are the primary victims of child sexual abuse, research suggests a more complex reality. A landmark 2007 study by the Ministry of Women and Child Development found that 53 per cent of children reporting sexual abuse were boys.

 However, more recent data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act overwhelmingly list girls as victims. In 2023, for instance, penetrative sexual assault cases recorded over 40,000 girl victims compared to just a few hundred boys. Experts say this gap likely reflects under-reporting rather than lower incidence.

Child rights groups explain that boys often remain silent due to shame, fear of ridicule, and social expectations of masculinity. Many worry they will not be believed or fear being mocked. When abusers are known to the child—as neighbours, relatives or acquaintances—disclosure becomes even harder. In cases where a woman is involved, society may struggle to recognise boys as victims at all.

Investigators in the Banda case revealed that the couple allegedly groomed the children gradually, building trust through familiarity and small favours before escalating to abuse. Grooming experts say such tactics are not gender-specific; they rely on power, secrecy and manipulation. Over time, children may feel trapped, confused or too frightened to speak.

The case also highlights the growing threat of online child sexual abuse material. According to NCRB data, India registered over 6.6 lakh cybercrime cases in 2023, with tens of thousands linked to sexually explicit content involving minors under the IT Act alongside POCSO charges. Cybercrime officials warn that encrypted platforms and closed digital groups have made distribution easier and more profitable. Demand, they say, sustains supply.

Mental health professionals caution that the damage to survivors can last long after the abuse ends. Without counselling and family support, victims may face anxiety, depression, anger issues or difficulty forming trust in adulthood. Child protection advocates argue that alongside strict punishment, India must invest more in awareness, gender-neutral reporting systems, survivor counselling and stronger digital monitoring.

The Banda court’s ruling sends a strong legal message. But activists say the deeper challenge remains: recognising that boys, too, are vulnerable—and ensuring they are heard before abuse continues in silence.