Failed love affairs lead to rape charges in twin cities

BHUBANESWAR: Crime against women has risen in the twin cities Bhubaneswar and Cuttack as 129 rape cases reported in 2015, the highest in the past five years. Shockingly, 90 of the victims are minor girls.

In Bhubaneswar alone, of the 87 reported rape cases, 59 victims were minor. The 2014 data records 43 rape cases, 27 in 2013, two in 2012 and 2013 in Bhubaneswar and the figures show a steep rise in crimes against minor girls, said the crime report of Commissionerate Police.

The number of rape cases against women in the last five years has registered a gradual increase in the twin cities. While 54 rape cases were reported in 2011, it was 84 in 2012 and 81 in 2013. The rape cases increased to 138 in 2014 and 129 in 2015.

Police commissioner RP Sharma, however, blamed it on rising openness and freedom among the new generation that allows more interaction between the opposite genders.

“The main reason for the increase in the number of rape cases is love affairs between teens. These affairs often turn into consensual sexual relations. But, when it does not materialise into marriage due to the societal or parental opposition, cases against men in such instances have to be booked under rape provisions since the complainants are victims,” Sharma said.

In at least 45 cases, the reason for rape was stated to be love affairs, the data revealed.

The city also saw two gang-rapes last year. Sharma warned that due to such social changes, rape cases against minor girls would continue to rise.

Among other heinous crimes, cases of reported robbery also saw a steady increase in the past five years in the city: 156 in 2015, 123 in 2014, 88 in 2013, 81 in 2012 and 76 in 2011.

Bike-theft, mobile and laptop thefts and chain-snatching are some of the most annoying daily crimes occurring in the twin cities. 156 robbery cases, 43 were chain snatching were reported in the twin city. In 2015, 22 cases of house robberies and 34 of highway robberies were reported.

On an average 43 cases of murder have been recorded in last five years in the city. In 2015, 44 murder cases were reported while 42 in 2014, 49 in 2013, 46 in 2012 and 34 in 2011.

The commissioner said most of the murders committed in the city are due to dowry torture. Of the 44, 15 murder cases were of dowry homicide.

The crime against Dalits has also seen a constant rise in the twin cities in the last five years. The data revealed 117 cases under SC/ST (PA) Act were registered last year and 85 in 2014, 80 in 2013, 54 in 2012 and 38 in 2011.

The commissionerate police booked 47 cases against builders and arrested 53 builders last year, compared to 68 cases registered against builders in 2014.