Crimes against women rising in Tripura

AGARTALA, Mar 19 – Crimes against women continues to haunt the law enforcement agencies in Tripura with spiralling number of cases of rape, molestation and dowry death.

The State witnessed maximum number of rape cases in 2010 when compared to 2008 and 2009. According to statistics, while a total of 238 rape cases were recorded with police in 2010, the number was 204 in 2008 and 190 in 2009.

Out of total registered rape cases in 2010, investigation in 79 cases is still going on while chargesheet has been filed in 147 cases. However, Investigating Officers (IOs) could not crack the nut in 12 rape cases.

Of the total rape cases (190) in 2009, chargesheets have been filed in 198 cases while final reports were prepared for six cases. However, investigation of 204 rape cases which were registered in 2008 has been wrapped up.

In 2008, police could prepare chargesheets in 67 cases within three months of registration of rape charges while it was 56 in 2010, according to reports available with the crime branch of police.

According to reports, as many as 51 dowry-related cases were registered in January this year while nine rape cases were registered during the period.

“We are taking serious steps to ensure speedy disposal of crimes against women and some cases like Dilip Guha incident have been chargesheeted within three months of registration of complaint”, said a police official here on Thursday.

On being asked about the low percentage of conviction rate (3.5), he said, “Loopholes in investigation process, hostility of eye-witness and refusal to become witness at key stages of investigation, workload on police are among the main reason behind it”.