Maharashtra NCRB Data :  One woman stalked or bullied on social media every day

Mumbai: Everyday one woman is stalked or bullied on social media every day in Maharashtra as per the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Maharashtra registered the highest number of cases of cyberstalking/bullying of women for three years in a row amounting to 1,126.

According to a media report, from 2017 to 2019, Maharashtra accounts for one-third of the total 2,051 cyber stalking/bullying cases reported across India, and on the list second is Andhra Pradesh with 184 cases and Haryana third with 97 cases. Maharashtra was ranked second among states in cybercrimes against women with 1,503 cases in 2019 as against 1,262 in 2018. The state saw a 19% rise in such cases over these years.

Despite Maharashtra Police known for its quick action it has failed to take action in these cases. The conviction rate in cybercrimes in Maharashtra in the three years has been very poor. Only 56 of the 4,500-plus arrested offenders sentenced to jail in these cases.. Registering a 50% rise in cases, Karnataka topped the list among states in cybercrimes against women. Karnataka registered 2,698 cases in 2019 as compared to 1,374 in 2018.

The state cyber superintendent of police Balsing Rajput urged women to come forward to report such crimes, he also said, “Women can directly register the offence on our website cybercrime.gov.in.”

The cybercrimes have increased especially in coronavirus induced lockdown.  According to National Commission for Women (NCW) data, 54 cybercrime complaints were received online in April, 37 complaints in March, and 21 complaints in February.

According to Akancha Foundation, Akancha Srivastava,  396 complaints in the month of March and April were about indecent exposure, unsolicited obscene pictures, threats, malicious emails claiming their account was hacked, ransom demands, blackmail and more.  Cyber- crime pulls in mostly sextortion that is extorting money or sexual favours from someone by threatening to reveal evidence of their sexual activity through means like morphed images.