Oct 16 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
`BROKEN TRUST' - Home most unsafe place for women
Abhinav Garg
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New Delhi
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Over 60% Crimes Occur Here, Kin Accused: Study
Over 60% offences of rape, molestation and ‘eve teasing’ (sexual harassment) recorded across Delhi till midSeptember occurred inside the house and the accused were known to the survivors. A unique court-ordered study by Delhi Police of 44 police stations throughout the capital has revealed that women are most unsafe at home with their relatives or acquaintances.The report on police’s “analysis and conclusions” was submitted as an affidavit before a bench of Justices B D Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul on Wednesday by standing counsel Zubeda Begum. In its study of cases lodged under the three crime heads, police informed the court that from January till September 15, 2,276 incidents were registered as FIRs.
However, a deeper study of circumstances surrounding the offences disclosed that 1,375 out of 2,276 incidents took place inside the house or jhuggi. “It is difficult to prevent or anticipate such crimes since they occur within the four corners of homes,” the police highlight in their affidavit.
Comparing similar incidents in which FIRs were lodged last year, police concede that such offences increased from 57% to 60.41%. Police further explained that in 1,767 out of 2,276 cases the accused turned out to be either a relative or acquaintance, showing how those trusted by women either violated their trust or tried to take advantage of their position. At the same time, police’s analysis also shows that 190 out of 590 alleged rape cases were a fall out of live-in relationships gone wrong. Fifty of these turned out to be cases of elopement in which one of the families filed a case alleging rape. Of 600 rape FIRs lodged, 23 turned out to be cases of property dispute in which the women charged the opponent with rape.
The affidavit further informs the high court that post Nirbhaya—when the stringent anti-rape laws were enacted—there has been a “steep rise in all three heads of rape, molestation and eve teasing”. So much so that a 300% variation is evident in over all reporting and recording of crimes relating to sexual offences against women ever since the new law kicked in. Amendments to the Indian Penal Code brought in enhanced punishment for rapists.Stringent punishment was prescribed for offences such as acid attacks, stalking and voyeurism while also expanding the definition of these crimes.
On the last hearing the bench had rejected the Delhi Police's affidavit saying it only contained figures and statistics without any analysis. “Doesn't police have a team that studies these figures to understand trends and come up with solutions? What do people in the headquarters do, don't they have analysts?“ the bench had questioned police then.
It had also directed police to inform if the measures claimed to be implemented by them to curb crimes against women are producing any results.
However, a deeper study of circumstances surrounding the offences disclosed that 1,375 out of 2,276 incidents took place inside the house or jhuggi. “It is difficult to prevent or anticipate such crimes since they occur within the four corners of homes,” the police highlight in their affidavit.
Comparing similar incidents in which FIRs were lodged last year, police concede that such offences increased from 57% to 60.41%. Police further explained that in 1,767 out of 2,276 cases the accused turned out to be either a relative or acquaintance, showing how those trusted by women either violated their trust or tried to take advantage of their position. At the same time, police’s analysis also shows that 190 out of 590 alleged rape cases were a fall out of live-in relationships gone wrong. Fifty of these turned out to be cases of elopement in which one of the families filed a case alleging rape. Of 600 rape FIRs lodged, 23 turned out to be cases of property dispute in which the women charged the opponent with rape.
The affidavit further informs the high court that post Nirbhaya—when the stringent anti-rape laws were enacted—there has been a “steep rise in all three heads of rape, molestation and eve teasing”. So much so that a 300% variation is evident in over all reporting and recording of crimes relating to sexual offences against women ever since the new law kicked in. Amendments to the Indian Penal Code brought in enhanced punishment for rapists.Stringent punishment was prescribed for offences such as acid attacks, stalking and voyeurism while also expanding the definition of these crimes.
On the last hearing the bench had rejected the Delhi Police's affidavit saying it only contained figures and statistics without any analysis. “Doesn't police have a team that studies these figures to understand trends and come up with solutions? What do people in the headquarters do, don't they have analysts?“ the bench had questioned police then.
It had also directed police to inform if the measures claimed to be implemented by them to curb crimes against women are producing any results.
