Rape cases rises in Mumbai, women safety questionable

NPnews240nline MUMBAI:   India’s financial capital Mumbai, was known to be the safest place for women to live in. However, recent times have seen an exponential rise in heinous crimes against women as data suggested that rape cases in the maximum city had doubled.

According to data, rape cases increased in Mumbai in 2017 compared to 2013. This information has been given to RTI activist Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh by the Brihanmumbai Police department.

Replying to this RTI application, Mumbai Police revealed that rape cases have increased in Mumbai city as compared to previous years. The reply to an RTI application by Mumbai Police revealed that 388 rape cases were registered in the year 2013 and 751 rape cases were registered in the year 2018.

The RTI reveals that in 2013, 388 cases were registered after which it rose to 605, 710, 712 and 751 in the year 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. But in 2018, rape cases reduced to 651 cases registration.

Which means that a total of 3,817 rape cases were lodged between 2013 to September 2018. The RTI query also revealed that a total 289 rape cases were registered under POCSO Act from September 2017 to December 2017 and by September 2018, a total of 842 rape cases were registered under POCSO Act.

On June 26, a Thomson Reuters Foundation survey stated India as the most dangerous country for women. The survey ranked India as more dangerous for women than war-torn Syria and Afghanistan.

A total of 548 global experts on women’s issues, 43 of whom are based in India, were asked questions relating to risks faced by women in six areas: healthcare, access to economic resources and discrimination, customary practices, sexual violence, non-sexual violence, and human trafficking.

India fared worst overall, and specifically worst for women in human trafficking, sexual violence and in relation to cultural, religious and tribal customs.