Delay in punishing guilty of rape, murder: Police laxity, lengthy court procedures, lack of evidence

By Vikas Meshram*

The problem of atrocities against women has become very serious in today's society. This not only destroys the lives of victimized women but also has a negative impact on the entire society. The root cause of this problem is many -- social, cultural, economic, and legal neglect. It is extremely necessary to take immediate and effective strict action on it.

The nature of atrocities against women can be of various types.

Domestic violence, sexual harassment, mental torture, child marriage, human trafficking, and exploitation in the name of dowry are all part of this problem. These atrocities not only affect women's physical health but also destroy their mental, social, and economic lives.

Strict action is an essential step to curb atrocities against women. This action sends a positive message to society that no form of atrocity against women will be tolerated. This action is necessary to provide women with a safe and respectful environment. If the culprits are punished promptly and severely, people will be deterred from committing such crimes in the future.

The laws regarding atrocities against women in the country have often not been effective. Because many times the accused are not promptly and properly investigated, or the guilty benefit from escape routes. Police laxity, lengthy court procedures, and lack of evidence delay the punishment of the guilty. For this, a technique should be developed to make the laws more stringent and implement them quickly.

The severity of laws is one side, but bringing about a change in the mentality of society is extremely important. Atrocities against women are not just a legal problem, but also a social problem. Even today, women are given secondary status in many societies. In such a situation, it is necessary to take strict action against atrocities against women. It is necessary to make society aware of this issue through education and public awareness. Because in the recent past, incidents of atrocities against women have been increasing day by day.

According to the figures reported by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 4,45,256 cases of total crimes against women were registered in 2022, which is more than in 2021 (4,28,278 cases showing a 4% increase). While 1,551 cases were registered in the category of rape/gang rape between 2017 and 2022.

The highest number of 294 rape/gang rape murder crimes were recorded in 2018 and the lowest 219 cases in 2020.

This report comes against the backdrop of ongoing outrage over the brutal rape-murder of a doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata and recent incidents of sexual violence in other states, which shows that violence against women, murders and rapes are taking place on a large scale across the country and there has been a significant increase in cases.

If we interpret it year-wise, we will find that this number was 223 in 2017; 283 in 2019; 284 in 2021 and 248 in 2022. State-wise figures over six years show that UP has the highest (280), followed by Madhya Pradesh (207), Assam (205), Maharashtra (155) and Karnataka (79).

An analysis by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative states that during 2017-2022, an average of five (4.9) incidents of rape/gang rape and murder occurred every week. NCRB started recording data on murder following rape/gang rape as a separate category in its annual 'Crime in India' report from 2017.

Considering the prosecution and reaching the verdict in cases of atrocities against women, out of 308 cases where trials have been completed, two-thirds (65%) of cases (i.e. 200 cases) have been convicted. In more than one-third of the cases, either the accused were acquitted or found not guilty. There can be many reasons for this, which may include the victim not fighting the case properly or withdrawing the case due to pressure from the accused.

The society that gives women the status of a goddess cannot give them equal status should be a matter of great concern

The conviction rate was lowest (57.89%) in 2017 and highest (75%) in 2021. It slipped to 69% in 2022. This means that although there has been an increase in incidents of violence and rape against women, the rate of their punishment has decreased, which is a matter of concern.

NCRB data also shows that the number of gang rape/murder cases in trial courts has increased year by year. The total number of cases, meaning backlog and new cases sent for trial, was lowest at 574 in 2017, which has increased to 1,333 by 2022, an increase of 132%.

The society that gives women the status of a goddess cannot give them equal status, and this should be a matter of great concern for any society because in a large number of cases the police file charge sheets. Complete the investigation instead of filing the final report. In these six years, 140 cases of gang rape with rape/murder were closed with final reports, out of which 97 cases were closed due to insufficient evidence to prosecute the accused of gang rape with rape/murder.

There is a need to make the law enforcement machinery in our country more sensitive towards women, so that the increasing crimes against women in the society can be curbed. This is important because NCRB has also collected data regarding such cases where the police could not gather sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused in their investigation or where the accused could not be traced, or where the complaint was found to be false or where the case was found to be groundless due to mistake of fact or law.

Notably, in four out of these six years, even during the pandemic period, the charge sheet rate was more than 90%. Recently slipped to 85% by 2022. However, some findings also show that during this period, the police could not complete the investigation in 32-49% of rape/gang rape cases. Therefore, the question is not only about the Kolkata hospital but brutal attacks on women are increasing across the country. The figures we are talking about are all recorded figures.

But there are thousands of cases where crimes against women are not recorded due to fear of defamation by the accused or in society. The need of the hour is for the government of the country and Indian society to unite against these crimes and stand shoulder to shoulder with women. Wherever the crime takes place in the country and whichever woman she is, whether she belongs to any ethnic or religious group, it is necessary to give strict punishment to the criminals who commit atrocities against women.

If such crimes are punished severely, it will create fear among other people and through that such crimes will be curbed. In some countries, death penalty is given for rape and other serious crimes. The Indian judicial system should also have provision for severe punishment.

Strict laws and their effective implementation are the need of the hour to deal with the problem of atrocities against women. The use of technology for women's safety, education, social awareness, and establishment of prompt justice system are necessary steps. Every component of society should recognize its role and work to stop atrocities against women.

Strict laws, prompt justice, and severe punishment to criminals will create a safe environment for women and establish gender equality in society.

---

*Social activist

Comments

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

A groundbreaking non-violent approach: Maharishi’s invincible defense technology

By MajGen (R) Kulwant Singh, Col (R) SP Bakshi, Col (R) Jitendra Jung Karki, LtCol (R) Gunter Chassé & Dr David Leffler* In today’s turbulent world, achieving lasting peace and ensuring national security are more urgent than ever. Traditional defense methods focus on advanced weapons, military strategies, and tactics, but a groundbreaking approach offers a new non-violent and holistic solution: Maharishi’s Invincible Defense Technology (IDT).

Govt of India asked to work for release of 217 Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan since 2021

By A Representative Members of the fishing communities from Gujarat and Diu, Union Territory, held a press conference in Ahmedabad, urging the Union Government to take proactive measures to secure the release of Indian fishermen currently detained in Pakistan. Presently, 217 Indian fishermen, mostly from Gujarat and Diu, are held in Pakistan’s Malir Jail. Of these, 53 have been incarcerated since 2021 and 130 since 2022.

This book examines dialectics of complex caste and class relationship

By Harsh Thakor* In Caste and Revolution by N. Ravi, the author addresses questions raised by Dalit and Bahujan intellectuals inspired by revolutionary parties. These questions center on caste issues and seek to formulate a profound diagnosis to chart a path toward the annihilation of caste. The book explains how caste-based feudalism and comprador bureaucratic capitalism intertwine to perpetuate the caste system. It asserts that only the path of a New Democratic Revolution can eradicate caste. The book delves into the need for an equal position for oppressed castes in all layers of society to abolish caste discrimination and oppression. It offers an analytical diagnosis, a penetrating navigation, and a detailed account of the dialectics of caste and class across diverse spheres. Annihilation of Caste and the New Democratic Revolution A revolutionary party develops a perspective document on the caste question, integrating its understanding of caste and the program for caste annih...

34 Dalit families in IIT Kanpur without toilets in Open Defecation Free India

By Sandeep Pandey When Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur was set up in 1959, two villages were uprooted. The farmers were given meagre compensation for the standing crop. No compensation was given for the land to build this institute of national importance. Each family was promised a job but what was not told to them was that one would require specialised skills to get a job at IIT. Some members of these families were, of course, absorbed for menial work. Some washerfolk families were also invited from outside to live on campus to take care of the laundry needs of students, staff and faculty members. One of these men was cajoled by IIT authorities then to forego a regular employment at IIT and instead take up clothes washing work.

प्राकृतिक संसाधनों के दोहन करने की प्रतिस्पर्धा: बढ़ रही पर्यावरणीय और सामाजिक चुनौतियां

- राज कुमार सिन्हा प्राकृतिक संसाधनों और कॉमन्स, जैसे सामुदायिक भूमि, वन, चारागाह और जल निकाय स्थानीय समुदायों के लिए महत्वपूर्ण हैं जो इन संसाधनों पर निर्भर हैं और उनके सतत् उपयोग एवं संरक्षण के लिए पीढ़ियों से प्रयासरत हैं। कॉमन्स न केवल हमारी पारिस्थितिकी को संतुलित रखते हैं, बल्कि ग्रामीण आजीविका, जैव विविधता, और जलवायु अनुकूलन के लिए भी महत्वपूर्ण हैं। दुर्भाग्यवश, हर साल इन संसाधनों में 4% की कमी आ रही है, जिससे पर्यावरणीय और सामाजिक चुनौतियां बढ़ रही हैं। इन कॉमन्स के संरक्षण और पुनरुद्धार के लिए दीर्घकालीन योजना पर कार्य करने की आवश्यकता है। जिससे एक बेहतर, समान और टिकाऊ भविष्य का निर्माण हो सके।

Local businessman subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse: Demand for accountability, justice

By Kirity Roy* On October 9, 2024, a disturbing incident of harassment and abuse took place in the Swarupnagar Block of North 24 Parganas district, involving a local businessman, Hasanur Gazi, who was subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse, and religious discrimination by a Border Security Force (BSF) constable. The incident, which occurred at the Hakimpur Checkpost, has raised serious concerns about the safety and dignity of citizens living in border areas, especially those belonging to religious minorities.

બેટ દ્વારકામાં માત્ર મુસ્લિમ ઘરો અને ધાર્મિક સ્થળો પર બુલડોઝર કાર્યવાહી: તાત્કાલિક રોકવાની માંગ

- પ્રતિનિધિ દ્વારા બેટ દ્વારકામાં મુસ્લિમ સમુદાયના ઘરો અને ધાર્મિક સ્થળો પર તંત્ર દ્વારા થયેલી બુલડોઝર કાર્યવાહી સામે સામાજિક આગેવાનો અને નાગરિકોમાં ભારે વિરોધ જોવા મળી રહ્યો છે. સ્થાનિકોમાંથી કેટલાક દ્વારા ગુજરાતના મુખ્યમંત્રીને લેખિતમાં રજૂઆત કરવામાં આવી છે, જેમાં આ કાર્યવાહી તાત્કાલિક રોકવાની માંગ ઉઠાવવામાં આવી છે.

Search This Blog