Mahesh Kumar
As reported earlier by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 445,256 cases were registered under crimes against women in 2022, showing a rise of 4 percent compared to 2021, which had 428,278 cases. However, a closer examination of NCRB Tables 3A.1 and 3A.2 reveals that between 2017 and 2022, there were 1,551 cases of rape or gang-rape followed by murder. The highest number of such cases was 294 in 2018, while the lowest was 219 in 2020. This data comes amid ongoing outrage over the brutal rape-murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, and recent cases of sexual assault in other states, highlighting a significant rise in violence, murder, and rape against women across the country.
Analyzing the data year-wise, the number of cases was 223 in 2017, 283 in 2019, 284 in 2021, and 248 in 2022. State-wise data for the six years showed that Uttar Pradesh registered the highest number of cases (280), followed by Madhya Pradesh (207), Assam (205), Maharashtra (155), and Karnataka (79). An analysis by the non-profit Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) revealed that, on average, about 5 cases (4.9) of rape/gang-rape and murder were reported every week between 2017 and 2022. The NCRB began reporting data on murder following rape or gang-rape as a separate category in its annual 'Crime in India' report starting in 2017.
Regarding the prosecution and conviction of these cases, of the 308 cases in which the trial was completed, just under two-thirds (65%) resulted in convictions. In more than one-third of the cases, either the accused were acquitted (6%) or the cases were dismissed (28%). Possible reasons for this include the victim not pursuing the case properly or withdrawing the case under pressure from the accused. The conviction rate was the lowest in 2017 (57.89%) and the highest in 2021 (75%). In 2022, it fell to 69%. While cases of violence and rape against women have increased, the conviction rate has declined, which is a serious concern. The NCRB data also shows that the number of gang-rape and murder cases pending in trial courts has increased annually, rising from 574 in 2017 to 1,333 in 2022, an increase of 132 percent.
The situation is particularly troubling because, during these six years, 140 cases of gang-rape with rape/murder were closed with final reports, 97 of which were closed due to insufficient evidence to prosecute the accused. This reflects the inadequacy of law enforcement agencies in dealing with such cases. There is a clear need for law enforcement agencies to become more sensitive towards women to address the rising crimes against them effectively.
Additionally, the NCRB collected data on cases where the police could not find sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused, where the accused could not be traced, or where the complaint was found to be false or a civil dispute. Notably, in four of these six years, the charge-sheet rate was over 90 percent, even during the pandemic. However, in 2018, it fell below 90 percent to 87 percent, and recently in 2022, it dropped to 85 percent. Furthermore, some findings suggest that the police have been unable to complete investigations in 32-49 percent of cases of rape/gang-rape with murder during this period.
The issue is not limited to the RG Kar Hospital case; brutal attacks against women are increasing nationwide. The figures discussed are reported cases, but many incidents go unreported due to fear of the accused or societal defamation. The nationwide movement triggered by the RG Kar case has highlighted the urgent need to address the increasing crimes against women. It is crucial that the government and Indian society unite to combat these crimes and stand in solidarity with women, regardless of their caste or religious background.
The writer is an independent journalist. The views are personal.
Analyzing the data year-wise, the number of cases was 223 in 2017, 283 in 2019, 284 in 2021, and 248 in 2022. State-wise data for the six years showed that Uttar Pradesh registered the highest number of cases (280), followed by Madhya Pradesh (207), Assam (205), Maharashtra (155), and Karnataka (79). An analysis by the non-profit Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) revealed that, on average, about 5 cases (4.9) of rape/gang-rape and murder were reported every week between 2017 and 2022. The NCRB began reporting data on murder following rape or gang-rape as a separate category in its annual 'Crime in India' report starting in 2017.
Regarding the prosecution and conviction of these cases, of the 308 cases in which the trial was completed, just under two-thirds (65%) resulted in convictions. In more than one-third of the cases, either the accused were acquitted (6%) or the cases were dismissed (28%). Possible reasons for this include the victim not pursuing the case properly or withdrawing the case under pressure from the accused. The conviction rate was the lowest in 2017 (57.89%) and the highest in 2021 (75%). In 2022, it fell to 69%. While cases of violence and rape against women have increased, the conviction rate has declined, which is a serious concern. The NCRB data also shows that the number of gang-rape and murder cases pending in trial courts has increased annually, rising from 574 in 2017 to 1,333 in 2022, an increase of 132 percent.
The situation is particularly troubling because, during these six years, 140 cases of gang-rape with rape/murder were closed with final reports, 97 of which were closed due to insufficient evidence to prosecute the accused. This reflects the inadequacy of law enforcement agencies in dealing with such cases. There is a clear need for law enforcement agencies to become more sensitive towards women to address the rising crimes against them effectively.
Additionally, the NCRB collected data on cases where the police could not find sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused, where the accused could not be traced, or where the complaint was found to be false or a civil dispute. Notably, in four of these six years, the charge-sheet rate was over 90 percent, even during the pandemic. However, in 2018, it fell below 90 percent to 87 percent, and recently in 2022, it dropped to 85 percent. Furthermore, some findings suggest that the police have been unable to complete investigations in 32-49 percent of cases of rape/gang-rape with murder during this period.
The issue is not limited to the RG Kar Hospital case; brutal attacks against women are increasing nationwide. The figures discussed are reported cases, but many incidents go unreported due to fear of the accused or societal defamation. The nationwide movement triggered by the RG Kar case has highlighted the urgent need to address the increasing crimes against women. It is crucial that the government and Indian society unite to combat these crimes and stand in solidarity with women, regardless of their caste or religious background.
The writer is an independent journalist. The views are personal.
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