A 15-year-old boy was sent to a juvenile home for stalking his classmate.

THANE: A 15-year-old boy was sent to a juvenile home for stalking his classmate. According to the police, the accused and victim studied together and the boy was infatuated with the girl since a few months and used to stalk her.

The accused has followed the victim several times too. Fed up with this, the girl lodged a complaint with the police on Saturday. The boy was arrested an hour later from his house. ''The boy was stalking the girl since June last year. He used to follow her where ever she went. He also used to stare at her,'' said a police official.

The accused has been sent to a juvenile home in Bhiwandi where he is being counseled.

Meanwhile, the police feel that parents, too, need to keep an eye on their kid's movements. ''Parents must check their children's mobile phone and should know their friend's circle. If they are in wrong company or doing something that is not right, the kids should be counseled,'' a senior police official said.

According to Section 354 (d), the police have the right to book anyone for stalking a girl/woman.

The official said that such behaviour now has an hawk eye of law book and section 354 (d) which has been amended gives the police a right to book any one for stalking any girl/woman. If the girl's woman notice any boy of following any one his intention can been clarified with that he is intended to molest/tease the girl/woman and now with the new amended they can been booked irrespective of the age. "Parents need to check their children's mobile bag and text messages and about their company and correct them if they are going wrong," said a senior police official.

Vijay Doiphode, a social worker with Tata Institute of Social Science's programme of resource cell for Juvenile justice said, "We deal with the counselling of the juveniles sent to juvenile home. In 99 per cent of such cases, the boy and girl are in a relationship. However, once they are caught, the girl claims that the boy was stalking her. The boy then lands in trouble for no fault of his. Parents play a very important role in the life of a teenager. If the child is given proper counseling and advice at the right time then many incidents can be averted."

To follow a woman and contact, or attempt to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman; or monitor the use by a woman of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication. There are exceptions to this section which include such act being in course of preventing or detecting a crime authorised by State or in compliance of certain law or was reasonable and justified.

