Assam: Crime against women on the rise in state, says report

GUWAHATI, June 21, 2018: Within the first three months of this year, there has been a rapid increase in crime rates against women in the city.

Guwahati city commissionerate's report said that altogether 399 cases were reported at various police stations in the city from January till March.

Altogether 136,120 and 143 cases were reported in January, February and March respectively. Of these, chargesheets were filed in 44 cases each in January and February while chargesheets were filed in 66 cases in March.

Guwahati police commissioner Hiren Chandra Nath said many cases were based on false information or misunderstanding. Of these cases, 85 were closed in January, 52 in February and 62 in March.

He said investigations are under way in all other cases.

"It is not an easy job to collect evidence along with medical and forensic reports. Police conduct investigations and demand medical reports. In general, it takes at least one month to file a charge-sheet in a case," Nath said.

In March and April, 22 cases of sex crimes against minors were reported in Assam.

In March, a 14-year-old was raped and murdered in Hailakandi and an 11-year-old in Nagaon. A 13-year-old was allegedly sexually assaulted in Kokrajhar, a nine-year-old in Barpeta and a seven-year-old in Kamrup district. A six-year-old was allegedly sexually harassed in Kamrup (metro) district.

In April, a five-year-old was raped and murdered in Dibrugarh district and a 20-year-old differently-abled girl was allegedly raped in the city. A 10-year-old was allegedly sexually assaulted in the city, a 14-year-old in Dhubri and another of same age in Goalpara, a five-year-old in Sivasagar, a 16-year-old in Sonitpur, a 13-year-old, a seven-year-old and another 13-year-old in Tinsukia, a 10-year-old in Majuli, a 12-year-old boy in Guwahati, a 10-year-old in North Lakhimpur and a Class V student in Hojai.

A six-year-old was allegedly molested in Guwahati.

Assam police headquarters has directed all police stations to file chargesheets of such cases within two months.

Sources said recently, the 181 Sakhi toll-free helpline for women affected by violence has started a 24-hour service.

An official of the helpline sai, "We will also carry out sensitisation programmes in collaboration with the social welfare department very soon. Under the programme, Anganwadi centres and the agency which supply domestic workers will be covered".

Source: The Telegraph

Featured image: Representation