UP Tops ‘Crimes against Women’

NEW DELHI: Northern state of Uttar Pradesh holds many distinctions, including being the state with the highest population in the country. Now the state adds another dubious distinction by registering the highest number of crimes against women.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, UP ranks top in the crimes against women with a record escalation in the previous two years’ numbers. It peaks at 38467 in 2014 as against 32546 in 2013, a considerable 18 per cent jump, leaving behind Andhra Pradesh which had recorded most number of cases related to atrocities committed against women with 32809 in 2013.

The Akhilesh Yadav run UP government is known for its miserable law and order situation and antipathy towards victims of crimes. In such a situation women find it extremely hard in getting their reports lodged with the police let alone getting justice. The questions have been asked to the CM in the past for such a poor show, such charges he has summarily rejected saying it’s all media hype and a fashion among the press to show his state in bad light.

"We are running a campaign to register all cases reported by women and get them acted upon promptly. So definitely if the figures are looking inflated that is the result of police registering FIRs on all such complaints that are brought to their notice. The government has ensured posting of at least one woman constable in each of the police stations. Women helpline number 1090 is also operational 24X7," said Daljeet Chawdhary, ADG (Law and Order) after the NCRB report came.

The main head ‘crime against women’ include incidents of rape, attempt to rape, dowry related cases, molestation, human trafficking, use violence by husband or relatives, among others.

The patriarch of Samajwadi Party, of whom Chief Minister is a son, in the past has made anti-women remarks and discounted the immorality of rapes. Not long ago, he could be seen saying during an address that “young men do make ‘mistakes’ but that doesn’t mean that they should be hanged for that.” The party and the state government was questioned by media then for their casual remarks.