There was an increase of around 10% in rape as well as in abduction cases in 2017 as compared to the previous year, according to official data released in the state assembly on Tuesday.
Responding to a question by Anjum FaziIi, minister in-charge home and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti in a written reply said 262 rape cases were registered in the state in 2017 as against 297 cases last year.
She said a total of 1652 cases of abduction of women and girls have been registered during the last two years.
She said as many as 877 cases of abduction of girls and women were registered last year, in comparison to 775 cases in 2016.
Mehbooba also said that 534 persons were arrested in abduction cases last year as against 479 in 2016.
She said 3075 number of such under-trial cases were registered last year in comparison to 3075 cases in 2016.
Mehbooba said a number of steps have been taken to curb the crime against women. Among them, she said six (6) Women Police Stations have been established in the Districts of Rajouri, Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag, for dealing the cases exclusively related to crime against women.
Further, she said, the Government has recently sanctioned five (5) Women Police Stations for the districts of Doda, Kathua,Pulwama, Kupwara and Leh.
She said round the clock patrolling is being conducted at vulnerable places particularly near Schools, Colleges and Universities to maintain vigil over miscreants and eve teasers.
“Dial 100 has been established by J&K Police which is one of the best practices for immediate help of people in distress especially the women.”
She said stringent provisions in the form of Section 326 A and 326-B RPC have been incorporated in J&K Ranbir Panel Code (RPC) by virtue of which harsh punishments have been incorporated in the laws which may extend to life imprisonment.
“Granting of bail to accused has been made quite cumbersome,” she said.
To curb acid attacks on women, immediately after lodging of FIR in the concerned Police Stations, the concerned Police Station was required to send a communication to the jurisdictional SDM about receipt of such information. “Upon receipt of such information, the jurisdictional SDM is required to conduct an enquiry into the procurement of acid by wrong doer and take appropriate action in the matter.”
“Further, section 326-A and 326-B have recently been incorporated in RPC by the State Government. Similarly section 545-B and 545-C have been inserted with a view to grant compensation and provide treatment to the victims of acid attacks.”
She said the Government has constituted a Committee of officers to register and enquire into and dispose of the complaints of sexual harassment against women employees. “All the Administrative Secretaries have been asked to constitute similar Committee in their respective departments at the State/Divisional/ District levels as the case may be. These Committees are required to address all complaints of sexual harassment and submit action taken reports to the Government.”
Talking to GNS, Anjum Fazili demanded shelter homes for the women so as to “ease the fear among them to register cases.”
“By establishing the shelter homes, the woman can get counseling and will be mentally prepared to take any decision and come forward,” Fazli said.
With the absence of the shelter homes, she said, the victims are not getting proper counseling and instead of coming forward, the majority of the victims do not register the cases.