BHUBANESWAR: The first six months of this year saw more
rape cases than the corresponding period last year. This in spite of the fact that the state was under lockdown from March to June.
Police’s statistics have shown that 1,212 rape complaints were registered in the first half of 2020, up from the 1,149 during the corresponding period in 2019. Altogether 2,950 rape cases were registered in 2019. Police said most of the complaints this year were filed between January and March. Of the 1,212 cases, around 30% were reported between April and June.
Cops said the crimes were difficult to prevent as they were mostly perpetrated by acquaintances of the women. “We found this to be true in at least 95% of the cases. The accused include friends, relatives and neighbours. Although there were restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles during the lockdown, such offences continued to be reported,” a senior officer said.
The officer said prompt action was taken on the complaints. “After the Nirbhaya incident, registration of cases of crime against women has increased across the country. Women, who some years ago would be reluctant to report these matters to police, now display courage and approached us,” the officer said.
A social activity, Sujata Samal, said more rape cases were reported as policing took a back seat during the lockdown, and police were busy enforcing
Covid-19 regulations. “The focus of the government and police shifted to anti-Covid enforcement drives,” she said.
Other crimes like burglary, theft and swindling also increased in the first half of this year as compared to the corresponding period in 2019. One reason such cases rose is because many houses fell vacant after their occupants departed for their native places in the wake of job loss, closure of offices and markets following the lockdown.
Murder, dacoity and robbery cases decreased in the first half this year, the official data said.