Rape Cases on The Rise in Assam

More Than 15,000 Women Raped in Assam in Past Ten Years

A 23 year old girl Amrita (name changed) from a remote village in Baska district is still waiting for justice. She was raped by five people three years ago.

Amrita is not th only one. More than 15,000 women in Assam were raped in the past ten years.

Crime against women is on the rise in Assam as more than 15,000 women and girls were raped in the state over those ten years.

According to Assam police reports, a total of 15,206 rape cases were registered in different police stations in the state from 2005 to August 2014.

The reports revealed that rape cases have increased every year in the north eastern Indian state.

After the Delhi rape case, the Supreme Court ordered stern action against culprits, but Assam witnessed shocking reports of rising crimes against women.

The reports revealed a total of 1217 rape cases were registered in 2005, while there were 1203 in 2006, 1310 in 2007, 1419 in 2008, 1269 in 2009, 1721 in 2010, 2011 in 2011, 1716 in 2012, 1937 in 2013 and 1403 cases registered up to August 2014.

“Different laws are in place to stop the crimes, but crimes have risen year by year. Now the question arises, are women in Assam safe,” Monty Mamu Kashyap, a social worker based in Guwahati said.

Not only rape, more than 23,000 women and girls were kidnapped in the state during the same period.

According to Assam police reports, during the period, a total of 23,829 women and girls were kidnapped and 15,325 women were molested in the state.

The report revealed that a total of 1456 kidnapping cases of women and girls were registered in the year 2005, with 1310 in 2006, 1471 in 2007, 1613 in 2008, 1906 in 2009, 2486 in 2010, 2998 in 2011, 3360 in 2012, 4222 in 2013 and 3007 cases up to August 2014.

Recently a women journalist was allegedly physically assaulted by two police officials inside the police station in Guwahati.

Several rape victims are still waiting for justice.

Hemanta Kumar Nath
Hemanta Kumar Nath is a correspondent in Assam, India, who reports on local news in Assam, the north east Indian state.