488 cases on stalking of women recorded in 2016.
While the city is generally perceived to be a relatively safe city for women, Mumbai Police's statistics reveal a constant rise in stalking cases over the last four years. According to statistics, on average at least one stalking case is reported in the city daily.
Since 2013, the higest number of stalking incidents was reported at Malad with 48 cases, followed by 38 cases in Oshiwara, 36 cases in DN Nagar, 35 cases each at Malwani and Nagpada, 34 cases in Charkop, 32 cases in Goregaon, and 31 cases in Andheri.
While 488 stalking cases were registered under section 354 (D) of the IPC in 2016, the number of cases registered in 2015 were 443. In 2014, 273 cases and 59 cases in 2013. There has been a 10 per cent rise in the number of cases registered in 2016 from 2015, 38 per cent rise in 2015 from 2014 and a 78.3 per cent rise in the number of case reported in 2014 as compared to 2013.
In 2016 alone, the most number of cases were registered in Malad (21), followed by Samta Nagar with 18 cases, Nagpada with 15 cases, Charkop and Andheri with 14 cases each, and Vanrai and Oshiwara with 13 cases each.
Dr Vinay Rathod, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) said, "There has been an awareness of reporting such cases. During festivals, the chances of such cases being on a rise increases."
Speaking about the evidence one should collect in such cases, another officer, on the condition of anonymity, said, "One should record such incidents and take screenshots of them on social media. The victim should find witnesses to make the case watertight." Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty said, "Disconnect with people, insecurity, obsessive controlling behaviour are traits of stalkers. There can be multiple ways of stalking, including through the use of social media while maintaining anonymity."
Flavia Agnes, women's rights lawyer and director at Majlis, an NGO for women's rights discourse and legal initiatives, said: "This is just a speck in the actual number of cases, quite a lot of cases go unreported. While the incidence of reporting such cases has increased because of awareness, the problem still persists."
National Crime Records Bureau data reveal that 4,699 and 6,266 cases were registered across India in 2014 and 2015 respectively for stalking women (Section 354D IPC). This amounts to a rise of 25 per cent in 2015 from the previous year.
){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}
 "stalking")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}