201 rape cases in state in 3 months
Tuesday, 23/04/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130423/punjab.htm#2
Chandigarh : At a time when the national capital is on the boil again following the rape of a five-year-old girl, Punjab too has witnessed a spurt in the cases of crime against women.
Between January and March this year, as many as 201 rape cases have been registered in various parts of the state. The three-month average is quite high as compared to the previous year’s count when a total of 680 rape cases were registered all over the state (in 12 months). On the spurt in rape cases, Hasmeet Singh, CPM youth wing office-bearer, said, “Instead of seeking capital punishment for rapists or asking girls and women not to dress provocatively, we should empower them (women) to take on the culprits fearlessly.”
However, Rajwinder Singh, president of a youth club in Gurdaspur, thinks otherwise: “Nothing but capital punishment can instill fear among rapists.”
Navkiran Natt, vice-president of Inqlaabi Naujawan Sabha, had a different view: “A change is possible only with a mass movement. We need to change the mindset of people. This has to begin from villages, in fact our own houses.”
A district police chief said, “A majority of the registered rape cases are those of elopement. And a large number of those involved are minors. Police does not dither from registering a case, though the conviction rate is poor.”
An officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector-General said, “The abysmally low rate of convictions in rape cases also stresses on the dark side of the law. At times, rape cases, though in a negligible number, are registered to settle scores. Complainants themselves reach at a compromise with the accused later... The law needs to be re-looked into.”
