Uttar Pradesh: In a recent report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the Government of India’s agency responsible for collecting and analysing crime data, reveals that the maximum number of rapes in the Uttar Pradesh state of India in 2019 — 57% of all cases — took place on the false promise of marriage.
The analysis of data further shows that in 37% cases in the state, the accused were known to the survivor, while around 6% perpetrators of the crime were unknown, Times of India reported.
Quoting the state’s Additional Director General of Police, prosecution, Ashutosh Pandey, the report said that data shows a distinct trend of rapes being committed by acquaintances of the survivors.
“Women should not keep mum if any acquaintance commits the crime. They should come up and report rape cases as this will help in higher reportage and conviction and send a clear message to the perpetrators of such crimes. Women should be made aware of the rules and laws which is now being done by the state government under the ‘Mission Shakti’ programme,” the report quoted ADGP further saying.
Besides, sustained and relentless efforts of the prosecution in the perusal of cases have resulted in accused being held guilty in courts and as a result, UP has the highest conviction rate in cases of crime against women among all states, Pandey added.
“UP had the highest conviction rate of 55% in cases of crime against women, followed by 50% in Uttarakhand and 45.5% in Rajasthan,” the ADG said.
The prosecution department achieved a higher conviction rate because of technological advancements and easy availability of court proceeding details on the portalecourts.gov.in, he added, according to the report.
The conviction rate is improving and in the last 24 hours, 11 persons were sentenced to life imprisonment. The convicts include Akash, who had brutally killed his mother by stabbing her 17 times in Sambhal.
Gajendra Saini, Murshid and three others have been sent to life imprisonment for the murder of a child during dacoity in Amroha.
“In Amethi, Shivbahadur was sentenced to life for the murder of his 11-month-old son, and in Ayodhya, Rajkumar was sentenced to life for the murder of his employer and attempt to murder of employer’s son,” Pandey was quoted by the report as saying.
Six others were awarded 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment in cases of crime against women and were also slapped with fines.
Bails of 90 accused in 86 cases of crime against women got cancelled, while 29 accused were externed from districts, the ADG said.
A helpline has been launched for providing free legal opinion to women who are victims of crimes. Besides, the prosecution also counsels and guides witnesses before they appear to testify in court in cases relating to crime against women.
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