Even as Opposition Congress and BJP members blamed the State Government for frequent incidents of minor girl rapes and violence against women, the Government on Wednesday once again claimed in the Assembly that the law and order situation is under control and women are very safe.
“A total of 937 rape cases had been registered by May 2019 and 996 during the corresponding period in 2018. Thus, the number of rape cases has declined by 5.9 per cent. The rape cases registered this year included 509 relating to minor girls. The number was 525 during the corresponding period in 2018,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh on behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in response to an Adjournment Motion on the subject.
The Minister said the Crime Branch is regularly issuing guidelines to police stations to register cases related to women without delay. The investigations are being concluded in maximum of 60 days. Modern techniques are being used to conduct investigations into the rape cases.
The accused in the Angul minor girl rape case has been arrested. Similarly, the accused in the Bhawanpatna child sexual abuse case has been arrested and forwarded to court.
“The law and order is now under control. General elections, management of Cyclone Fani and Rath Yatra have been conducted smoothly. No terrorist activity has occurred during 2018 and 2019. Police have succeeded in creating brotherhood and maintaining peace during various festivals,” claimed Arukh.
He said conviction rate in rape cases was 16.92% in 2017 and 18.35 per cent in 2018. As many as 144 cadre Assistant Public Prosecutors (APPs) and 11 Public Prosecutors have been appointed to conduct investigations. Besides, 16 more APPs would be appointed soon, the Minister informed.
However, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik and Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra alleged that the figures and claims made by the Minister are only meant to mislead the House. “Poor girls and women are being exploited in the State. The BJD Government is only trying to protect own people by misusing power. The incidents of rapes, murder and theft have increased alarmingly. The recent incidents at Angul, Bhawanipatna and Rengali are bright examples. The Government should accept that incidents are really occurring and take action accordingly,” said Naik.
Mishra alleged that the Minister made a comparison of figures between two years to get escaped from the present situation. “Seven rape cases are occurring each day and the conviction rate is only six per year. The number of registration of minor girl missing cases are rising every year and tracing of missing girls has remained very low. This shows how serious is the State Government in checking rapes and protecting women,” said Mishra.Mishra suggested the State Government to adopt four Ps, preventive measures, proper investigation, prosecution and punishment in order to increase conviction rates and check the incidents of rapes. BJP members Bishnu Charan Sethi and Mohan Charan Majhi and Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja too raised various incidents and alleged that the Government has failed in checking rapes and violence against women.
BJD members Sashi Bhushan Behera, Snehangini Chhuria, Prasant Muduli and Prafulla Samal refuted the charges made by the opposition members. Expressing unhappiness over the Minister’s reply, the BJP members staged a walkout. Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro disallowed the Adjournment Motion.