Bhopal records highest number of rape cases in five years: NWC

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh recorded highest number of rapes in the country during last five years as per the figures given by National Crime Bureau, the Chairperson of National Women's Commission (NCW), Girija Vyas said here today.

The state, however, stands third in the country as far as rape cases are concerned, as per the figures given by state government, Vyas told a press conference here.

The matter of concern is rising number of rape cases in the state rather than its statistical position in such cases, she said. She voiced concerns about the lower ratio of convictions in rape cases in the state. Vyas said that 2,896 rapes took place in the state in 2007 and the figure came down marginally to 2,117 in 2008.

Asked if she was satisfied with the performance with the state government in dealing with rape cases, she said she was partially satisfied.She said that the Commission has already proposed a number of laws relating to women and some of these had been enacted. The Commission has now proposed a sexual assault bill which will cover all other forms of harassment including eve teasing other than rape, Vyas.

She denied that sometimes women file false cases of rape, saying no woman would like to earn a bad name in society unnecessarily.

She said that there was little awareness about the Domestic Violence Act under which a woman can seek legal redressal for domestic violence against her. The Commission Chairperson said that under this act a woman can get a case registered against her husband under section 498 (A) of the IPC. source