Bengaluru: Why are the attacks on women and children increasing in the state every day? Here’s the answer. Even in horrendous crimes like dowry deaths, the conviction rate is less than 20%. It’s even lower in cases of violence against children.
Data available with the union home ministry contains detailed accounts of how dowry deaths and violence against women and children are closely linked.
According to the data available for 2012 and 2014, dowry deaths increased from 218 to 313 annually. During the same period, the conviction rate has come down from 19.412% in the year 2012 to 9.6% in the year 2014.
The same trend can be observed when it comes to violence against children. According to the data, in the year 2012, 875 cases were registered over violence against children. This number shot up to a shocking 3,416 in the year 2014. Interestingly, the conviction rate is surprisingly low even in the cases related to violence against kids.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr. Nagasimha G Rao, nodal officer, child helpline, informed that there is need for greater coordination and effort from all stake holders to ensure proper conviction of the accused and to bring down crimes against kids.
'There are multiple reasons for poor conviction rates. Many a time, cases were poorly handled by the investigating officers who do not know how sensitively these cases should be dealt with. I did not see even a single severe punishment in a case related to abuse of children. Special courts with a conducive environment and child-friendly procedures are the need of the hour," he concluded.
