Rape accused mostly known to victims

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sanctity of family and personal relationships in Kerala is on the downslide.  Fresh statistics reveal  that the offenders in 93.5 percent rape cases  are  either family members, relatives, neighbours, colleagues or others known to the victims. And the majority of the victims are  minors.

According to the  latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau, 1,347 rape cases were registered in the state during 2014.   In 1,260 cases,  the offenders were family members, relatives or other known persons.

In 62 cases,  the offenders were father, brother, grandfather or even son. Close relatives and family members were accused in 96 cases and neighbours in 237 cases. While employers and colleagues were accused in 13 cases, other known persons were involved in 852 cases.

The NCRB report also revealed that the majority of the rape victims in 2014  were minors - 763.

While 20 victims were below the age of six,  105 were  aged  between  six and  12;   233 between  12 and  16 and 405 between 16 and  18.

Social activist  G. Rejitha  said that awareness programmes against sexual abuses  should be conducted among  males instead of women. 

“At present,  the awareness programmes  are aimed  mainly at women. Instead,  males  should be made aware of the social and legal implications of any sexual acts against women. Many males, especially boys, are least aware of the legal protection for  women,” she said.