A rising number of rapes on juveniles in the state has turned the spotlight on the lack of safety for children with victims of child rape accounting for over 50% of total rape victims in Maharashtra in 2012. The year has also seen a rise in rapes of girl children between the ages of 10 and 18 as compared to 2011.
Mumbai (15%) accounts for the highest percentage contribution of offences against children in 2012, followed by Pune, Nagpur, Thane and Pune (rural).
“…girl children accounted for 50.08% of rape victims during 2012, which is very unfortunate and sad,” said the ‘Crime in Maharashtra-2012’ report compiled by the state CID. It pointed out that rapes of children below the age of 10 had increased by 7.63% compared to 2008 and the number of victims between 10 and 18 years had risen by 38.37% in the same period.
However, rapes of girl children below the age of 10 years have decreased by 6.62% in 2012 as compared to 2011, while rapes of those between the 10 and 18 years rose 12.41%.
In 2008, the share of children in total rape victims was 44.29%, which fell to 41.19% in 2009 but showed a consistent rise to 46.99% in 2010, 48.42% in 2011 and 50.08% in 2012.
Mumbai has the dubious distinction of leading Maharashtra in rape of children, kidnapping and abandonment.
In 2012, 3,456 crimes against juveniles were committed, which was a rise of 2.8% as compared to 2011 (3,362 cases). The 2,822 murders committed in 2012 involved murders of 238 juveniles, including 113 boys and 125 girls. Underage children formed 8.43% of total murder victims in Maharashtra.
“The way in which society views women and girls is changing and becoming more narrow-minded,” rued human rights activist Eknath Dhokale. He said the government machinery, including the police, was also affected by misogyny.
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