CHENNAI: Children from Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts came together on Saturday to pay tribute to teenager Dilshan, who was shot on the Army premises on Sunday last.Members of the Inclusive Neighbourhood Children Parliaments (INCP) of the three districts in TN paid a silent tribute outside the Memorial Hall. Leaders among them spoke about gross violation of child rights, with special reference to Dilshan’s case. The idea was mooted by the Tiruvallur group. The children of the INCP meet regularly and discuss events which they find interesting in the news. On reading about this incident, which took place at the Officers’ Enclave on Flag Staff Road, the members wanted to take the opportunity to bring the issue of child rights to the fore.Sasikala (15), one of the organisers said, “The thought that a boy almost my age was shot down just for being playful is horrific. As children, don’t we have the right to play? Was it such a big crime that he had to lose his life? Our Army is the one which protects us, and they should help find who did this. We never want anything like this to happen in India again.” Around 100 children, from far-flung villages turned up at the rally and held placards asking the investigating authorities to find Dilshan’s killer.Olga, state coordinator for Inclusive Neighbourhood Children Parliaments , said, “This was initiated by the children and we did not want to stop them. They wanted to put their point across in a peaceful way.” Sister Gladys, one of the coordinators for Chennai district, said that the children were very much aware of what was happening in the world around them and this was their way of showing solidarity with Dilshan’s grieving family, while reminding the people of children’s rights.
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