Increasing its tally against 2012, Odisha witnessed at least five rape cases a day during 2013 as the crime committed against women kept on rising.
The number of rape incident in the State rose from 1,458 in 2012 to 1,832 in 2013 with an increase of 364 cases. In 2011, as many as 1,112 cases of rape were reported with police, said a report of the Standing Committee on Home Department for 2014-15 on crime situation in the State.
It is evident that the number of rape cases filed in different police stations is on a rising trend despite the Government's effort to check the crime. As per the report, overall crime rate had also increased in the State during 2013 with 90,184 cognizable cases against 83,960 such cases reported during 2012. During 2013 while 1,454 cases of murder took place, there were 562 cases of dacoity, 1,678 cases of robbery, 3,747 cases of burglary, 10,044 cases of theft, 2,204 cases of swindling, 1,937 cases of rioting and 9,680 cases of motor vehicle accidents.
Two tribal districts, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar, reported more than 100 rape cases. While Mayurbhanj topped the list with highest 142 rape cases during 2013, Keonjhar followed with 115 cases, Baleswar with 94 and Sambalpur with 81 cases. While no case of rape was reported from Railway Police (RP), Cuttack, one was reported from RP, Rourkela and 15 cases of rape were reported from Malkangiri.
The report said that of the 1,832 cases of rape, 1,785 cases were found to be true after investigation. The investigation process was so slow that final report was given in case of only three cases, while 1,129 cases were under investigation. Charge sheets were filed in case of around 95 per cent of the total cases.
The report also said that during 2013, a total of 5,382 dowry cases were reported of which police had filed charge sheets in 3,084 cases. Similarly while 540 cases of dowry related murder were reported during last year, 63 dowry related suicide cases were registered during 2013. As per the report, during 2013 as many as 3,489 cases of dowry related torture had been registered of which charge sheets had been filed in 1,941 cases. Similarly as many as 1,290 cases of torture on women relating to non-dowry matter were reported during the year, it said.