Kolkata: The rising number of crimes against women has put Assam police on high alert, as statistics show that at least one woman is subjected to either rape and molestation every four hours in the state.
While only a few years ago Assam was considered one of the few states safe for women, the sudden rise has put pressure on authorities in the state to act.
In 2004, the number of cases involving crimes against women was 700, but it had shot to 24,09 by 2013. In 2012, at least 1,804 cases of rape or molestation were reported, while some 1,446 had been molested in the previous year.
As of March this year, 650 cases of rape had already been registered and there is no sign of falling in the numbers.
“The situation is really disturbing, as the crime [rate] against women is rising every day. On average, seven to eight cases of molestation and rape are reported every day, which means the every four hours, a woman is subjected to horror in the state,” said a senior police official.
What has been more worrying for the state police is that the numbers of incidents committed by “educated” people are higher with urban centres like Guwahati witnessing a sudden rise in the last few years.
Eve-teasing and verbal abuse have become commonplace, with women in the state finding it difficult to move in public places alone.
“It is really difficult for women to navigate public places without being subjected to some kind of harassment,” admits a city police official.
Though the state government and the police is taking on new measures, like introduction of a special all women police wings — Cobra and Veerangana — and introduction of special women buses, there seems to be little effect on the perpetrator.
“There is this feeling among certain sections of men that they will get away committing such crimes. We will have to ensure speedy justice for a large number of crimes to make people realise that they will be punished. Enforcement of the law is more important within a time frame to induce fear among such people,” another official responsible for safety of women in the state said.
