Letters to Editor

Crime Against Women

In 2016, India recorded 106 rapes a day, highlighting the continuing rise in crimes against women in the country despite a series of court rulings and toughening of laws to deal with the mece. A large number of those raped (2,116) were girls below 12 years of age and in 36,859 (94.6%) of cases, offenders were known to the rape victims and included neighbours, family members, relatives, live-in partner, employer / co-worker and the like.

The tiol capital Delhi witnessed the most number of rape cases at 1,996, followed by 712 in Mumbai, 354 in Pune and 330 in Jaipur. As per the reports of the tiol Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), crimes against women increased by 2.9% all over the country in 2016 with 4,737 rapes recorded in the year. In all, 38,947 rape cases were registered across India in 2016, compared to 34,210 in 2015. Gang-rape cases reported in 2016 also increased to 2,167 from 2,113 in 2015. UP, which was ruled by SP in 2016, reported 14% of crimes (at 49,262 out of 3,38,954 cases,) against women, followed by Bengal (9.6%).

According to the NCRB reports, conviction rates on cases relating to crimes against women in Assam were 20.5%, 19.5% and 16.2% in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. Assam has registered 19,169 cases of crime against women in 2014 and 20,869 cases in 2016. Out of the total 3,38,954 crimes against women registered in the country in 2016, most of the women were victims of 'cruelty by husband or relatives' (32.6% of cases), followed by 'assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty' (25%), 'kidpping and abduction of women (19%) and 'rape' (11.5%). It turns out that 33,796 women / girls were also kidpped / abducted in 2016 with the motive of compelling them to marry, with the most such cases (12,070) reported from UP. The NCRB data reveals that 2,60,304 cases of crimes against women were sent for trial in courts in 2016. Conviction was secured in 23,094 cases. Also reported in 2016 were 206 cases of acid attack on women, while 7,236 women were stalked. Among 19 metros alysed by NCRB, Delhi, followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru, reported most number of crimes against women - 13,803 out of 41,761, while stalking cases stood at 669.

It is really unfortute that crime against women occurs every day in our country. While the erstwhile Congress regime could not initiate strong measures to curb crime against women, India continued to remain unsafe for women even after the BJP-led government came to power in 2014. The present NDA government must take strict action in all cases of crimes against women. In view of increasing number of crimes. The country needs a strong law for quick disposal of cases relating to crime against women.

Satish Kumar Sarma,

Kalyanpur, Biswath Chariali.

Shocking deed

The news flashed in all the leading news channels pertaining to two CRPF personnel being stoned to death in Antg in Jammu and Kashmir is indeed highly shocking. The question arises as to who these stone throwers were. Were they Indian? Again, Antg is very much a part of India just as Delhi, Mumbai or Guwahati are. Such things can only happen in India where on duty security persols are attacked and yet they have to exercise restrain. Secularism is the password by which such offenders can make good their escape while dubbing traitors as mere protesters has seemingly come into vogue. Through your esteemed daily I salute the two martyrs.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Ambari, Guwahati.