BENGALURU: This should be enough to embarrass the chief minister. Setting to rest any doubt that the IT city is highly unsafe for women, home minister Dr G. Parameshwar said, “Bengaluru tops in Karnataka in the number of rape and sexual assault cases.
This tech hub now holds the dubious distinction of occupying the top slot among all districts in terms of number of cases of rape and sexual assault on women according to statistics released by the home department.
In his reply to BJP member V. Somanna’s question in the Legislative Council on Thursday, home minister Dr. G. Parameshwar spoke in detail about cases, including those of rape and sexual assault, registered in Bengaluru during the last three years (2013-2015). During these years, the state witnessed 3497 rape cases and 12,982 sexual assault cases. In 2015 alone, 4025 sexual assault cases and 1060 rape cases were registered in the state. The rate of conviction in rape cases was extremely low with only 92 cases ending in conviction, he added.
Sexual assaults: Statistics reveal that Bengaluru topped the list of cases of sexual assault with 606 out of 3822 cases registered in the state in 2012, but Ballari district witnessed the lowest at six. Of the 3822 cases, 3308 were solved with the arrest of 5674 accused and conviction of 31 persons. In 2014, 5135 sexual assault were cases registered, and once again Bengaluru stood first, registering 1013 cases and lowest 11 cases registered in Bidar and Kalaburagi districts. Police officers have solved 4547 cases with the arrest of 7443 accused. In 2015, Bengaluru police registered 882 sexual assault cases. In all, the police have solved 3249 cases with the arrest of 5352 accused.
In 2013, of 1066 rape cases registered across the state, 79 cases were registered Bengaluru city. Police have solved 993 cases by arresting 1396 accused. In 2014, 1371 rape cases registered in the state, of which 116 cases registered in Bengaluru city alone. Police have arrested 1896 accused and solved 1280 cases. In 2015, Bengaluru police has registered 94 rape cases. In total rape cases registered in 2015, police have arrested 1390 accused and resolved 962 cases. In order to deal with sexual assault and rape cases, the government has constituted ten fast track courts, with the police registering suo-motu cases against the accused.
Following cases of sexual assault of school children, the police department issued guidelines to all schools, most of which have been adopted by school managements. Authorities of education department have extended full co-operation to the police department in this regard, Dr Parameshwar added.
Compensation
The home minister admitted the slight delay in distribution of compensation to rape and communal riots victims. Meanwhile, nominated member and actress Jayamala urged the state government to amend rules for castration of men who rape children.
Participating in a debate on the law and order situation in the Legislative Council on Thursday, she said the Chennai high court has favoured castration of child rape accused to deter others from indulging in such acts. Such a rule would help the state government check cases of child rape which was increasing in the state, she added.
Ms Jayamala spoke of the need to check the antecedents of teachers before their appointment in the wake of cases of sexual abuse of schoolchildren. Teachers should be trained to create awareness among children about indecent behaviour by teachers, she added.
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