Killing of teen in China puts 'left behind' children of migrant workers in spotlight

Killing of teen in China puts ‘left behind’ children of migrant workers in spotlight

BEIJING: A tragic incident in northern China involving the death of a 13-year-old boy has sparked discussions on juvenile crime and the challenges faced by children left behind by migrant parents.

Three boys have been taken into police custody after allegedly bullying and killing the junior high school student in Handan city on March 10. The victim’s body was found buried in a shallow pit, as reported by state media.

Currently, no charges have been filed in the case, which is being investigated as a homicide by local authorities. A team of over 60 people has been assembled to delve into the details, according to CCTV News.

The victim and the three detained boys are all children of rural migrant workers who often leave them in the care of grandparents or other relatives while they work in urban areas.

Census data from 2020 indicates that there are approximately 67 million such “left behind” children in China, who are vulnerable to mental health issues, bullying, and criminal activities, as noted in academic studies.

The incident has gripped the nation, prompting widespread outrage on social media platforms. Calls for a public trial and national live broadcast have emerged, with demands for justice against the perpetrators.

“Public Trial! National live broadcast,” wrote a user on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

Other users called for the perpetrators to be punished, while some said that bullies across the country were watching the outcome.

In 2021, China lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 for certain crimes. The Global Times, citing experts, said the case could be the first that goes to court under the new legislation.

Beijing-based defence lawyer David Zhang told Reuters the crimes the law covered include intentional homicide, intentional injury causing death and injuring someone by cruel means resulting in disability.

“Although China has a strict censorship system… a considerable number of teenagers have precocious ideological maturity and social cognitive abilities far exceeding their peers,” he added.

( with input from agency)

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