MOLESTATION OF WOMEN IN INDIA

India is one of the few countries in the world, where a series of high-profile rape cases and the issue of sexual violence has always become part of the national agenda. India has shown utter disregard and disrespect for women, rape, marital rapes, sexual assault and harassment, female infanticide has gone unabated. According to Thomas Reuters Foundation, India is the world’s most dangerous country for women due to the high risk of sexual violence and harassment against women. Several incidences like Nirbhaya rape case (2012), Mumbai Gang rape case (2013), Ranaghat Case (2015), Delta Meghwal Rape Case (2016), Unnao rape case (2017), Kathaua rape case (2018), Hyderabad rape cum murder case (2019) and Sexual harassment of female wrestlers (2023) exposed the grim reality of bestial sexual crimes against women in the country. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 28,000 cases of rape were reported across India in 2020. According to NCRB 2021 statistics, Rajasthan reported highest number of rapes among Indian states, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, the highest number of rape cases in the country were registered in Rajasthan (6,337) followed by Madhya Pradesh (2,947), Uttar Pradesh (2,845), and Maharashtra (2,496). There was a 19.34% increase in such cases in Rajasthan, where 5,310 rapes were reported in 2020. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in its report noted that Delhi also recorded 13,892 cases of crimes against women in 2021, a significant surge of more than 40% compared to 2020 when the figure was 9,782. As per NRCB data, an average of 88 cases took place daily, an increase from 28,046 & 32,033 cases recorded in 2020 & 2019 respectively. Of the total 31,677 cases 28,147 (nearly 89%) were committed by the accused known to the victim. Among metropolitan cities, Delhi continued to have the highest number of rape cases (1,226 cases in 2021), while Jaipur had a rape rate (34 per 100,000 population). The Indian capital registered 13,982 cases of crimes against women in 2021, while the total crimes in all 19 metropolitan cities were 43,414, according to the report. The capital registered 136 cases of dowry death in 2021, which is 36.26 percent of total deaths due to the menace in 19 metropolitan cities. There has been a constant increase in rape incidents in India. Victims mainly belong to lower strata of society – Muslims, Christians, Dalits, and Low caste populations.

Reported rape statistics in India are at 2.63 per 100,000 people, ranking it with the highest rape statistics in the world. However, reports suggest that far more incidents go unreported due to patriarchal attitudes and victim blaming. It is estimated that every day more than 80 women are raped, and there have been over 31,000 reported cases in 2021 alone. In 2021, 1,033 women had to face the heinous crime till the same period. Comparing 2022 year’s data with that of 2021 there has been an increase of 6.48%. 1,100 women were raped in India’s capital in the first 6 months (till 15 July) of 2022, as per data compiled by Delhi Police. Nearly 2,200 women were kidnapped in the national capital in 2022, again raising serious concerns about the safety of women. In 2022, the crime of assault on woman with intent to outrage her modesty soared to 1,480 cases in comparison to 1,244 cases registered in 2021. From January 2022 till August 2022, 2,197 women were kidnapped – way more than 2021 kidnappings and 1,880 for the first six months. For the whole year in 2021, the crime of kidnapping was faced by 3,758 women. Human Rights Watch projects more than 7,200 minors – 1.6 in 100,000 minors – are raped each year in India. Among these, victims who do report the assaults are alleged to suffer mistreatment and humiliation at the hands of police. From time to time U.K., U.S., France, and Swiss governments issued advisories for their nationals traveling to India/ living in India advising women—in particular—to exercise caution. Prime Minister Modi gave a speech on 15th August on the safety and protection of women in India and on the same day they released the convict of rapists which can clearly state that RSS backed BJP government considers rape a tool to suppress minorities and how women can feel safe in such climate?