Girls and women are more vulnerable to their own relatives and acquaintances than unknown persons when it comes to sex-related crime in the national Capital. Till 15 June of the current year, around 97 per cent of rapes were committed by the people known to the victims.
According to data shared by Delhi Police, around 973 rape cases have been registered in which involvement of strangers is a mere 2.82 per cent. However, in 2018, 2,135 rape cases were reported in national Capital and 2.48 percent accused were strangers were involved.
Though the data has shown a steep fall in the rape cases as compared to last year but a new challenge has emerged for Delhi Police to deal with known persons who are found involved in crime against women and girls.
"In several cases, in which the rape accused is known to victim, they try to settle t it outside court and in many a cases, victims retracted from the statements", a police official said.
"Delhi Police have taken several initiatives for women's safety as it was a priority focus area for them. Under the banner of 'Sashakti', extensive self-defence training was imparted by qualified trainers and around two lakh girls were covered in 2017," the police official added.
Some of the other initiatives included ensuring high- visibility of police personnel in vulnerable areas, introduction of women patrols and making 'Himmat' app bilingual and more user-friendly.
"The police also maintains constant liaison with civic authorities apprising them of the dark and lonely stretches in the city. Patrolling is intensified during dark nights in and around vulnerable areas.
Beat police personnel have been directed to take action against people who are drinking in public places, which often acts as a precursor to crime against women," said the police official.