These cold statistics, made available by the Mumbai police, when translated and seen through the prism of safety and security herald a sorry tale for women.
Your city has, on an average, seen 183 rape cases a year over the last 11 years (between 2002 and 2012). And a disturbing trend that has been noticed is that the number of cases has witnessed a jump during the last three years.
These cold statistics, made available by the Mumbai police, when translated and seen through the prism of safety and security herald a sorry tale for women.
The numbers get worse. Cases of kidnapping and abduction (with victims of both genders) that have been registered have scaled an average of 178 for the same period.
The technical difference between the two terms is that kidnapping is used in case the victim is a child while abduction refers to adults.
The above information was made available by the police in response to a Right To Information
Alarming rise
Since 2002, the number of cases of rape has risen by 80 per cent while the number of cases of kidnapping and abduction has risen by 77 per cent. This graph too has seen a northward movement over the last three years. Rape cases hit a high of 215 in 2008 as compared to figures of the preceding six years. The information was made available through an RTI query |
query that had been filed by Chetan Kothari, an activist based in South Mumbai. Kothari had sought the details of cases between 2002 and 2012.
The rape of a 23-year-old woman that took place in New Delhi last month has brought into sharp focus safety concerns for women across the country. Over the last month alone, several cases of sexual assaults have come to the fore with citizens demanding capital punishment for molesters and rapists and a relook at existing laws.
According to the Mumbai police’s data, the number of cases of rape since 2002 has risen by 80 per cent while the number of cases of kidnapping and abduction has gone up by 77 per cent. This graph too has seen a northward movement over the last three years.
Rape cases scaled a high of 215 in 2008 as compared to figures of the preceding six years.
Kothari said the trend was disturbing and the police should take some more drastic steps to ensure that crimes against women do not take place. “If they [the police] do not get cracking, it will instill fear in the minds of the people,” said Kothari.
Joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy did not revert when DNA sought his views on the statistical figures.
Spokesperson for the Mumbai police, Ambadas Pote, too expressed his inability to comment on the data. “I will have to go through the figures tomorrow and only then will I be able to talk to you on this subject,” said Pote.
|
Year |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
Cases
registered |
128 |
133 |
186 |
198 |
163 |
172 |
215 |
178 |
192 |
219 |
219 |
|
Kidnapping & abduction cases registered |
119 |
150 |
175 |
197 |
186 |
176 |
189 |
148 |
192 |
220 |
211 |
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}