Conviction rate in crimes against women highest in Mizoram: NCRB

GUWAHATI: Mizoram recorded the highest conviction rate in cases relating to crimes against women in the country while in Assam it was second poorest, just above West Bengal's, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures for 2021 released on Monday.
The national average of conviction rate in such category of crime is over 26, which is much lower than Mizoram's conviction rate of over 81. On the other hand, West Bengal recorded a conviction rate of 2.5 and Assam 3.9.
The cases that were considered by NCRB include the those sent for trial last year and the pending trial cases from 2020. In Assam, out of over 96,000 cases of crimes against women sent, trials have been completed in just 3,798 cases, which amounts to pendency of over 95%.
Among the cases where trials have been completed, convictions have come in only 148 cases involving 185 persons. In 3,647 cases, 4,578 persons were acquitted while in three cases, as many accused were discharged. Moreover, Assam Police filed charge sheets in about 31% of the total cases of crimes against women. NCRB stated that the reported crimes against women in the state increased by more than 10% in 2021 over 2020.
The rate of crime against women, which is calculated as the number of total crimes recorded per 100,000 population, in Assam last year was over 168, which is way higher than the national rate of 64.5. Delhi came second with 147.6 and Odisha third with 137.8.
But in absolute terms, Assam recorded over 29,000 cases of crimes against women in 2021, which is sixth highest in the country. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with over 56,000 cases. Nagaland recorded the lowest number of cases (54).
In Assam, majority of the cases are of rape-cum-murder/gang rape. A total of 1,948 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were reported in the state last year of which 1,317 were of child rape, 424 cases of sexual assault and 158 of sexual harassment.