Women no more safe in state

BHUBANESWAR: Women are not anymore safe in Orissa, once dubbed peaceful. If the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics is anything to go by, it has acquired the dubious distinction of being among the top 10 states where maximum number of rapes occurred.For records’ sake, it was placed eighth among 28 states so far as the number of rapes in 2010 are concerned. The NCRB which released its Crime 2010 on Thursday notes that as many as 1,025 incidents of rape were reported in Orissa during the last year while Madhya Pradesh topped the chart with 3,135 cases. Developed states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are well behind. Even Bihar, once known for its lawlessness, reported just 795 cases of rape.In 2007, just about 939 rape cases had been reported in the State. In terms of percentage, it accounts for 4.6 per cent incidence of rapes occurring in the country and its share in the total cognisable offence stands at 2.5 per cent. Any which way one looks at it, it figures among the top. The only saving grace though is none of its cities finds a place in the list of 35 brought out by NCRB. Delhi with 414 incidents of rape is right at the top.However, it is not rape alone, incidence of molestation in the State has been considerably high to push it among the top in the list. With 2,905 cases reported during 2010, Orissa is fifth among 28 states just behind Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh with Madhya Pradesh at the top. Eve-teasing too is a regular affair if the statistics are to be believed.Bizarre as it may sound, of the 1,016 cases of kidnapping and abduction during 2010 in the State, 912 involved women and girls. The records also show that at least 56,459 cognisable offences were recorded in the State during 2010 with an all India share of 2.5 per cent. Going by the criminality scenario, Orissa ranks 23rd, something it can draw solace from.