BENGALURU: In a decade to 2016, the incidents of molestation (under Section 354) reported in Bengaluru increased more than four-fold, statistics compiled by the city’s Commissioner of Police show.
Yet, according to analysis of police data, of the 4,241 complaints filed between 2006 and 2016, the conviction rate was 0.37 per cent (16 cases).
The number of complaints under under Section 354 (assault to outrage the modesty of a woman) rose from 150 in 2006 to 776 in 2016.
Experts say this could be because of an increase in the number of incidents as well as greater willingness on the part of women to register complaints.
This data project could serve as a template for how police in India’s burgeoning cities can make sense of their crime data in public interest.
Section 354 includes sexual harassment (354A), use of criminal force with intent to disrobe (354B), voyeurism (354C) and stalking (354D). The data obtained from the Bengaluru commissionerate group these offences under “molestation”.
Bengaluru entered 2017 with reports of mass molestation of women in the city’s bustling MG Road and Brigade Road areas despite deployment of thousands of police personnel.
The reports came as a shock to residents and for people across the country who believed the city to be safe for women.
Kavya S., 24, was on her way to work when a stranger attacked her in public. “It was around 8:30 am in broad daylight, I was walking to work in Kormangala when a stranger grabbed me and tried to kiss me in front of dozens of people! No one came to my help but when I screamed and kicked him, they yelled at me and asked me to leave him,” she recounted.
Kavya immediately filed a complaint with the local police under Section 354, but did not pursue the case once she shifted her residence.
“Police officials were very cooperative,” she recalled, “but I couldn’t follow up on the case as I had to shift my house and job.”
Cases such as Kavya’s are increasingly common, although Bengaluru police say they are working to improve the law and order situation for women.
“We have identified areas that are hotspots for crimes against women and launched 51 Pink Hoysalas (mobile units) that are dedicated to women. We have also launched an app called ‘Suraksha’ last week (April second week). Anyone can inform us if they are in danger and we would reach the spot in 10 minutes,” S. Ravi, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), said.
Bengaluru’s criminal justice system is marred by delays, as with the rest of India’s. Of the 4,241 molestation cases reported, 2,248 (53 per cent) are pending trial, according to data from the Bengaluru City Police Commissionerate.
Among the cases tried, there have been 523 acquittals (12 per cent) and 16 convictions (0.37 per cent) — even as the police consider 97 per cent of cases to be “true” after investigation.
A decade earlier, the figure for “true” cases was 84 per cent, indicating more open-mindedness in dealing with women’s complaints as well as better effort on the police’s part to investigate.
However, lawyers and activists believe the large proportion of acquittals is due to shoddy investigation.
“In most crime against women cases, especially the molestation cases, the accused get acquitted or the cases are kept pending for years,” Pramila Nesargi, a noted lawyer and a well-known women’s rights activist, said.
“The main reason for all these is the reluctance of police in getting proper evidence.” (IANS)
