Monsters On Prowl: Molestation Cases On Rise In J&K, Reveals New Report

Valley Reported 1426 Cases Of Molestation In 2021, Jammu 434

Once considered to be the abode of Sufi saints, the Kashmir Valley has witnessed the highest number of molestation cases in the last ten years against women with 1849 cases in 2021 against 1754 cases a year earlier, reveals Crime Gazette recently released by Jammu and Kashmir Police.

According to data, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer the region witnessed 1194 in 2011, 1322 in 2012, 1389 in 2013, 1413 in 2014, 1342 in 2015

1233 in 2016, 1422 in 2017, 1600 in 2018, 1445 in 2019, 1754 in 2020 and the highest number in 2021 with 1848.

The data in 2021 clearly shows that there has been a noticeable increase in molestation cases as compared to previous years with a crime rate 13.76 per lakh population.

The data further shows that the molestation against the women has marginally increased in the Valley unlike in Jammu—the winter capital of UT.

The Valley reported 1426 cases of molestation in 2021 while Jammu witnessed only 434. Similarly in 2020, the valley witnessed 1358 cases while Jammu reported only 396 cases of molestation.

The central Kashmir’s Budgam topped the chart with 217, followed by Srinagar with 204 and Kulgam and Baramulla with 191 and 124 cases respectively.

However, the women's rights experts believe that the victims prefer to come forward and report the crime which was seen as a crime itself earlier.

“While it is unfortunate that violence against women is increasing, one silver lining is that the rise reported in data may in-fact be a reflection of more women reporting such crimes,” said a Srinagar-based rights activist Tania Sayeed.

She further says when the culture of reporting crimes becomes more frequent among women; it will create a culture where women will no longer fear either their abusers or the fall-out of reporting such crimes.

In the absence of the state commission for protection of women and child rights in UT, the victims are finding it difficult to report the cases.

It may be noted, the commission was repealed two months after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution on 5 August 2019.

A top police official told Kashmir Observer that they have established a women police help desk in every police station across J&K.

He said in Srinagar, the Police has established a women police cell at Rambagh Police Station where cases related to women crime are being attended on regularly.

He further said that the help desks have encouraged the victims for approach the police for counselling and reporting any offence.

However, Tania says that there’s some sense of suspicion and shame attached to being seen inside or near

WHILE IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT VIOLENCE AGAINST women is increasing, one silver lining is that the rise reported in data may in-fact be a reflection of more women reporting such crimes.”

police stations in Kashmir, especially for women.

“Therefore, no matter the place, the police doesn’t seem to be a woman’s go-to to report such crimes,” she said, adding that spaces created by NGOs or Women’s commissions build trust around their work.

“Violence against women is a complicated affair and women would prefer that in their respective contexts, their case is handled with some amount of responsibility and caution,” she added.