Rape cases on rise in Uttaranchal

Dehra Dun, Mar 8 (UNI) Uttaranchal is becoming unsafe for women as the state has registered an increase in rape incidents during the last few year.

As per the statistics of State Women Commission and Police Crime Review, number of rape cases shot up to 88 last year, as compared to 77 in 2004 and 65 in 2003.

Dehra Dun recorded the highest number of crimes against women last year (240), followed by Haridwar (234) and Udhamsingh Nagar (197).

Going through last year's statistics, Dehra Dun and Haridwar saw 12 murders each. 32 women were murdered in 2003, while 2004 and 2005 witnessed 42 cases of murder each. Highest number of rape cases were reported in Haridwar (28), followed by Dehra Dun (21) and Uddhamsingh Nagar (16).

Dehra Dun also recorded the highest number of eve-teasing incidences (47) last year, while Uddhamsingh Nagar and Haridwar registered 42 and 34 cases respectively. The incidents of women abductions were 37 in Dehra Dun, 33 in Uddhamsingh Nagar and Haridwar (29).

Eve-teasing shot up to 139 cases last year against 105 in 2004, while 120 abduction cases were recorded in 2004 and 2005 each, against 93 in 2003.

The incidences of dowry deaths in the state is however, going down. The number of dowry deaths were nine in Udhamsingh Nagar, eight in Dehradun and seven in Haridwar.

Immoral trafficking has also come down to 3 last year as compared to 7 in the preceding year.

Bageshwar district in the state has recorded the least number of crime cases against women (4), while Almorah and Chamoli had 6 and 7 cases respectively.

UNI/LPT OM VC1912