Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has always been known as a peaceful State, but there is a different story if we take a look at the stats.
According to police figures, 128 rapes have been reported in different police stations of the State this year till November 2012 which is three times the number of rapes in 2001. But some NGOs and women organisations believe that that the actual number of rapes is higher than the reported number because the police do not register rape complaints unless the crime is ‘severe’ or unless the victim uses political influence.
According to data from police spokesperson 128 rape cases includes 38 in Haridwar, 26 in Dehradun, 28 in Udhamsinghnagar and 13 in Nainital. Statistics of last 10 years show that most of the rape cases are registered in plains of Uttarakhand. As many as 47 rape cases were registered in different police stations in the state in the year 2001, 63 in 2002, 69 in 2003, 79 in 2004, 95 each in 2005 and 2006, 87 in 2007, 77 in 2008, 95 in 2009, 105 in 2010 and 121 in 2011.
According to Uttarakhand Director General of Police Satyavrat Bansal, there is not any particular mechanism which police can use to put check on such cases, but several steps including formation of Anti Women Harassment Cell, Women Cyber Cell and Night Patrolling Squad and others have been taken to prevent violence against women in the state. Police officers have been directed to intensify patrolling during night apart from conducting checking of buses, taxies and other vehicles. CCTV cameras will also be installed at important places to put check on such cases in the state.
What if Police is not registering the complaints?
Uttarakhand police has appointed women police officers including district officer, circle officer, sub-inspector and constable at important places. In case womens’ complaints regarding rape and other crimes are not registered in the police station, women can approach these women circle officer, sub-inspectors, constables for registering their complaint if they are not registered in the police station.
