Crime against women on the rise

SHILLONG: Crime against women is on the rise in the state with as many as 480 such cases registered last year.
The crimes were not just confined to the interior areas of the state but were frequent in East Khasi Hills district which accounted for 35 per cent of all crimes against females. South Garo Hills, meanwhile, can be considered the safest for women as it accounted for only 3 per cent of the crimes.
As per police statistics, the crime rate against women in the state is increasing by the year.
Police statistics revealed that in the year 2010, 261 cases of crime against women were registered in the state while the number increased to 269 in 2011. In 2012, cases of crime against women went down to 255 but the numbers shot up again in 2013 with 343 cases reported.
The most common form of crime against women in Meghalaya is rape which sums up to 39 per cent of crimes committed against the females followed by molestation cases which accounts for 34 per cent of the crimes.
Police statistics also said that 118 cases of rape were reported in the state last year while the number of kidnapping of women and girls was 38.
In addition, 105 cases of molestation and 42 cases of cruelty by husbands were also reported in the state.