Crime rate against women up by 6.96 pc in Maharashtra: report

Pune, Sep 4 (UNI) Maharashtra has registered an increase of 6.96 per cent in crimes against women, with Mumbai remaining on top in respect of crimes against women, said the State CID's annual report.

Incidents of rape have gone down by 2.91 per cent, but abduction has increased by 8.23 per cent. Around 3.21 lakh cognisable offences were registered in 2006, 1.2 lakh offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1.29 under Special and Local Laws, said the 'Crime in Maharashtra 2006' report.

Crimes against children have also increased by 23 per cent and there has been an increase of 44 per cent in cyber crimes committed mostly by persons in the age group of 18-30 years.

Maharashtra, which ranks third in the country in terms of population and area, has shown a consistent rise by 2.5 per cent in crimes registered under IPC in 2006 as compared with the previous year.

With one murder reported every three hours, a rape every six hours, big robberies every four hours and a dowry-related crime daily in Maharashtra, the state is faced with a law and order problem, the report said.

The statistics revealed that every hour, two cases of house breaking, five cases of theft and accidental deaths were registered, while incidents of eve-teasing were reported every three hours, which indicates the crime rate has gone up, the report added. UNI