Chandigarh: The figures available with the police of Haryana, the launch pad state for the Union government's women empowerment scheme 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,' paints a rather gloomy picture of women's safety in the state.
As per the data from the Haryana police's crime against women (CAW) cell, four heinous incidents were reported in the past one and a half month, including the brutal rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Uklana town of Hisar. Also, the incidents of rape by cops in Yamunanagar and Faridabad jails, also shows the state of affairs with the police.
As per the CAW figures compiled for the January 1 to November 30 period, 1,238 women were raped in the state at average of 3.69 rapes per day. Similarly, there were 2,089 case of molestation of women registered in the 11-month period.
According to figures released by the Haryana police, a total 9,523 cases of crime against women were registered between January 1 and November 30. Besides rape and molestation, 2,432 cases were registered for kidnapping of women and girls and 3,010 for cases of dowry harassment.
Inspector general of police (crime against women) Mamta Singh confirmed the cases as per the reports released by the police department. She, however said, "We don't say crimes (against women) did not occur but this could not be reflective of any one kind. We have worked out all cases of molestation, rape and other crime against women. We have very good examples of how our team in Rewari ensured death sentence for three rapists who had murdered the girl after abuse. The case had almost fallen when we teamed up to pursue the matter personally," she said.
She said another reason for the higher number of registration of cases was the state directions to registering cases in all complaints moved by women and girls. "There are examples where cases have ended up in cancellation as well," said IGP Singh.
Preeti Bhardwaj, vice-chairperson of Haryana State Women Commission, admitted that the crime against women were on the rise in the state. She blamed the social-economic problems for women being targeted. "So far as sexual abuse is concerned, we admit that some worst cases have been reported in Haryana in the last two months. Now the time has come to create maximum awareness about crimes against women," she said.
Ranjeeta Metha, spokesperson of the women's wing of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), said the state government had failed to act and react in time. "This government was never sensitive towards the crime against women. They were not only insensitive but there was total failure in investigating the cases. The figures would have been quite high if the reporting of cases had been genuine. We are sorry to say even the women wing of the BJP too failed to give a healing touch to such victims," she alleged.
