339 cases of crime against women recorded in 2015

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 26: In 2015, the state has so far reported 339 cases of crime against women, according to a Meghalaya police data.

Out of these reported cases, 76 were rape incidents and 19 were attempts to commit rape. There were 14 cases of kidpping and abduction, 11 cases of murder and 10 cases of attempt to murder.

The data available were till September 2015.

It may be mentioned that last year a total of 480 cases of crime against women were reported in the state.

Out of these, there were 118 cases of rape and 26 cases of attempt of rape, 20 cases of murder and 9 cases of attempt to murder.

Further, as per data available with the state police, the cases of reported crime against women, has risen over the years.

According to data, the reported crime against women in 2001 was 66 while the numbers rose to 480 in 2014.

The number went to 71 in 2002, while in 2003 the number stood at 69.

In 2004 the reported crime against women was 113, which significantly rose to 131 in the year 2005.

In 2006, the number went up to 176, in 2007 it was 172 and in 2008 the reported crime against women was 208.

Moreover, in 2009, 237 cases of crime against women and in 2010 it was 261.

In 2011 there were 269 reported cases of crime against women and in 2012 it were 255 and in 2013 the number rose significantly 343.

It may be noted that recently, concerned over the delay in delivery of justice to victims of various crimes including rape, the State Law Department has directed all Public Prosecutors (PPs) to take serious and speedy action whenever the cases come up in any court under their jurisdiction.

According to the letter issued by the Joint Secretary of Law Department on December 14, 2015, all the Public Prosecutors of various districts have been directed to take serious and speedy action in all cases relating to victims of rape trafficking, torture, abuse and exploitation of children in the state, whenever they come up in any court under their jurisdiction.

This directive came as an action on the part of the law department one year after CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing sent a letter in this regard in 2014.

One year ago, the CSWO leader had submitted the letter to the State government expressing concern over the delay of justice to victims of many cases related to murder, rape and trafficking and other crimes against women and children which kept on lingering for years in the district courts.