The News Minute | December 5, 2014 | 3.35 pm ISTThe number of cases of crime against children, including sexual violence and abuse, has increased over the years in Kerala.According to the latest state crime records bureau reports, a total of 1324, 1877 and 1692 cases of crime against children, in the age group of 6 months to 14 years, were reported in the state during 2012, 2013 and 2014 (up to September) respectively.There are 550 child rape cases registered in the state in from January to September 2014. Several media reports however suggest that the numbers of unregistered cases could be much higher.Other than sexual violence, 990 other crimes against children have been registered in the past nine months.The crime records reports were published following the much controversial Nadapuram sexual assault case, where a four-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in school by senior students in Kozhikode.A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the High Court of Kerala, citing the Crime records bureau numbers, to constitute a special team under a woman IPS officer to investigate into the increasing crimes against children. The petition is now under the High Court’s consideration.The National Study on Child Abuse report of 2007 reveals that two out of every three children were physically abused.Kerala State Crime Records Bureau Reports :