The statistics submitted in the Assam legislative Assembly on Monday revealed that in the last nine years, the State recorded maximum number of cases of crime against women. According to the data, 68,329 women have been tortured between 2005 and 2014 and 1,589 women have died during the period after falling victim to crimes like rape, dowry demand and witch hunting.
Replying to a question by the Opposition legislator Gul Akhtara Begum, Assam Agricultural Minister Rockybul Hussain informed the House that while 68,329 women have been tortured, a total of 78 women died of rape, 1,388 women died due to torture over dowry and 123 other women have been killed after being branded witches. Besides, another 15,931 women have been raped during this period.
“In 2014 alone, 13 women died due to rape and 2,047 others have been raped. There were 205 dowry deaths in the State last year followed by killing of six women after branding witches. Besides, 11,657 other women were also subjected to torture last year,” said Hussain.
Hussain further informed the House that the police have arrested 47,298 people in connection with these crimes and out of which 44,877 have already been charge sheeted. The Court had punished 1,385 of them so far while the trial is on for other accused.
Besides, 26, 464 cases of abduction of women have taken place during this period and the police have nabbed a total of 13,568 women abductors and sent them for judicial custody. The statistics assume significance as the Congress-led Government in Assam has been trying to bring a new legislation to stop crime against women and ensure security to them.