Incidents of outraging women's modesty increase 89% in Mumbai
City Ranked Second Only To Delhi In Crimes Against Women
In 2013, a 22-year-old photojournalist, interning with a magazine, was sexually assaulted by five persons, including a juvenile, at the deserted Shakti Mills compound, near Mahalaxmi on August 22. Three of the accused in the case had similarly assaulted a 19-year-old call centre employee, on July 21.The crimes shocked the city but violence against women increased sharply last year, both in Mumbai and the state, with a near 100% rise in instances of sexual abuse alone. According to the National Crime Record Bureau’s (NCRB) 2013 report released on Monday, Maharashtra had the most cases of outraging modesty and insult to a woman’s modesty, with 8,132 and 2,632 cases registered respectively in 2013. Mumbai continued to be second among major cities with 1,163 cases of outraging modesty and 444 cases of insult to women.
Maharashtra witnessed a 107% rise in cases registered for outraging modesty, while Mumbai saw an 89.4% increase, the report said. Policemen said the increased numbers showed more women were coming forward to file FIRs than in the past.
Mumbai police spokesperson DCP Mahesh Patil said the increase in street patrolling has showed results as cases of chain-snatchings and other crimes against women have reduced. “Initially, women would fear social consequences of reporting a crime and the hurdles they would have to encounter in the police station while lodging a complaint. Now due to increased awareness, women are refusing to tolerate crime. They are coming forward to demand the accused is punished, which is seen in the increase in the number of FIRs registered.“Former Thane police commissioner S P S Yadav, said a higher rate of employment among women has increased their interaction with various sections of society, which in turn has exposed them to greater risk of sexual exploitation. This can only be countered by commensurate and enhanced security measures, he added.
Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, said the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, introduced after the Nirbhaya case, has helped. “Earlier, police would register a noncognizable offence instead of an FIR when a woman would complain of sexual assault.
Now police are compelled to probe the cases,“ said Shah.
Maharashtra witnessed a 107% rise in cases registered for outraging modesty, while Mumbai saw an 89.4% increase, the report said. Policemen said the increased numbers showed more women were coming forward to file FIRs than in the past.
Mumbai police spokesperson DCP Mahesh Patil said the increase in street patrolling has showed results as cases of chain-snatchings and other crimes against women have reduced. “Initially, women would fear social consequences of reporting a crime and the hurdles they would have to encounter in the police station while lodging a complaint. Now due to increased awareness, women are refusing to tolerate crime. They are coming forward to demand the accused is punished, which is seen in the increase in the number of FIRs registered.“Former Thane police commissioner S P S Yadav, said a higher rate of employment among women has increased their interaction with various sections of society, which in turn has exposed them to greater risk of sexual exploitation. This can only be countered by commensurate and enhanced security measures, he added.
Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, said the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, introduced after the Nirbhaya case, has helped. “Earlier, police would register a noncognizable offence instead of an FIR when a woman would complain of sexual assault.
Now police are compelled to probe the cases,“ said Shah.
Source::: The Times of India, 02.07.2014, p.06, http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Incidents-of-outraging-womens-modesty-increase-89-in-02072014004004
