Over 300 cases reported in State in first 8 months of 2016
SHILLONG: In an alarming trend, more than 300 cases of crime against women, including domestic violence, and children have been reported in the State in the first eight months of this year.
Police statistics show till August this year, 196 cases of violence against women, including 56 rape cases and 52 of assault with intent of outraging modesty, have been reported. There are 19 cases of domestic violence either by husbands or relatives.
Besides the uptrend in crime against women in Meghalaya, violence against children is also showing no sign of dying down as 143 such cases have been reported till August this year.
The police data shows 71 cases have been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, besides 28 cases of kidnapping. In addition, there are 11 cases of rape.
Theilin Phanbuh, chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Women, said the Commission is organising several awareness programmes in different parts of the State and it would be further intensified. She stressed on the need for strengthening Seng Kynthei which, she said, have to work together with Rangbah Shnong to address the concern.
196 cases of violence against women, including 56 rape cases
and 52 of assault with intent of outraging modesty,
reported. In addition, 143 cases of violence, kidnapping
and rape against children have been reported.
According to Phanbuh, the Commission would also seek support from the Centre under the Nirbhaya Fund, which is Rs 1,000-crore corpus fund announced by the Government of India in its 2013 Union Budget.
The fund supports initiatives by the government and NGOs working towards protecting the dignity and ensuring safety of women in India.
In addition, she said the Commission is taking up the matter with Meghalaya police and they are focusing on various vulnerable situations where a woman can be victimised in absence of street lights and during load shedding.
“We think that there should be a separate wing in the police department, only for investigating crime against woman and children,” she said and added that parents should be aware of the whereabouts and activities of their children.