She further said the State has seen two-fold rise in rape cases within two years. The rape cases have increased from 750 in 2010 to more than 1,500 in 2012 which is alarming. Odisha is in third place within the country in rape and number one in child rape, she quoted the data of a national-level report, she asserted. Sharma said that a three-member team would visit Odisha on July 17 to investigate into the marine drive blind girl rape case. She said the Government should take appropriate steps for the safety of the women in the State. It should step up police patrolling in the sensitive tourist places in the marine drive area, she maintained.
