89% rape accused relatives or known to survivors in state: Police study
JAIPUR: In 89% cases of rape in Rajasthan, accused were either relatives or known to the victim, reveals an analysis by the crime branch of Rajasthan police.
Gaurav Srivastava, deputy inspector general (DIG), crime branch, said that the department analysed more than 10,000 chargesheeted cases filed between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2020, and found that in 89.13% of the rape cases accused were known to the victims. About 36% of the rape cases took place at the residence of victims and 11% at the residence of accused.
“Information and statistics were for better understanding of the various dimensions of the problem,” said Srivastava
On January 6, 2021, the findings were shared by the state director general of police, ML Lather and chief secretary Niranjan Arya with a parliamentary standing committee that oversees the functioning of the ministry of home affairs.
The findings revealed that while 31.37% of the rape victims were minor, 70% of the accused were aged between 18 and 30, 21% were aged between 30 and 60 and rest were either minors or senior citizens.
The study revealed that women are not safe even at their homes.
“36.20% of rape cases took place at the residence of victims, 17% at open fields or farms and 11.46% at the residence of accused,” said Srivastava, adding, “Only 5.6% rape victims were graduate, 23.32% victims were illiterate and 35.51% were primary school pass.”
Rajiv Gupta, a sociologist, said that the data indicates decline in moral values.
“The data reveals the failure of formal and informal systems in our society. Close relationships and inter-relationship with neighbours are degrading dayby-day. The reason behind declining values is that television serials and gadgets have entered the houses of families,” he said.
Gupta said the reason behind the rape by relatives can be attributed to the fact that male members of the family or known to the victims feel that she can be easily victimised and will not be able to raise her voice. “Both systems as well as society need to collaborate moral and legal values to stop such incidents,” he said.
A retired IPS officer, who didn’t wish to be named, said that the most effective medium to control the crime could be proper raising of the children.
“If the children, especially the males, are taught about equality, legal and moral aspects of the crime since birth then the cases can decline. Society also needs to change its mindset towards rape. Generally, it is the victim, who is questioned and it raises the confidence among culprits that they can get away after committing rapes with their known ones,” the IPS officer said.
Sangeeta Beniwal, chairperson, Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Right (RSCPRC), said, “We have observed that in most of the rape cases with minor, the accused is either known, relative or living in the same locality.”
“In order to stop such incidents, not only kids should be taught about good and bad touch, but also parents need to sensitize. They need to keep an eye on their relatives, people living in same locality. Also, they need to motivate their kids to complain if they are facing any harassment from anybody. Even if he or she is a relative,” she said.