New Delhi, Sept. 4 -- The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has reported a sharp rise in child abuse cases during the first seven months of this year.

According to the NCPA, 141 serious cases of child sexual abuse, 330 incidents of sexual harassment, and 32 cases of child rape were recorded between January 1 and July 31. In addition, 44 cases of child pregnancies were reported during the same period.

Out of 5,461 complaints received by the NCPA during this timeframe, 4,501 were related to violations of the Child Protection Act, while 960 complaints fell outside its scope.

Child cruelty accounted for the highest number of cases, with 1,126 complaints, making it the most reported form of abuse.

The NCPA also noted 125 cases of ...