Bhopal: Statistics show that Madhya Pradesh continues to be unsafe for women. In 2017, the incidents of rape and molestation in the state grew by 10 per cent as compared with 2016. According to data compiled by the PHQ, 5300 rape cases were registered in the state in 2017, up from 4882 in 2016. In 2015, in all 5072 cases were registered. The graph of cases of molestation is also on an upward spiral. In 2017, 9500 cases of molestation were recorded.
The corresponding figures for 2016 and 2015 were 8700 and 8000 respectively. For the first time the police have registered 1,000 cases of stalking, 379 cases of making sexual comments, whistle-blowing, singing vulgar songs etc. In addition, around 125 cases of voyeurism have also been registered.
Around 1000 girls were kidnapped in the state with two districts of Bundelkhad, Tikamgarh (76) and Sagar (65) topping the list. Lata Wankhede, chairperson of MP Women’s Commission said that while the rise in the number of sex crimes against women was a matter of concern, it also shows that that people have greater faith in the police. “Earlier, the victims and their families used to hide such incidents but now they are coming out boldly and getting their complaints registered”.
She expressed the hope that once the bill cleared by the assembly, making rape with girls less than 12 years of age with death, would act as a deterrent. K K Mishra, chief spokesperson for the state Congress said that the rise in the figures of sex crimes against women were indicative of the ‘failure of the government and the police’.
Mishra further said that it was to distract the attention of the public from this gross failure that the state government had moved the death-for-rape bill in the assembly. “May be, now they will bring another bill”, he said.
– 5,300 cases of rape and 9500 molestations registered
– For the first time 1,000 cases of stalking
registered in State
– Around 1,000 girls kidnapped;
Bundelkhand, Tikamgarh top the list.
