Crime against women on rise in AP

Hyderabad, Feb 28 (UNI) Even as the Andhra Pradesh Government took steps to curb crime against women, such crimes registered an increase in the last three years, Home Minister K Jana Reddy informed the State Assembly today.

Replying to T Veerabhadram and other CPI(M) members, he said crime against women had increased from 14,940 in 2005 to 18,062 in 2006 and 20184 in 2007.

Mr Reddy said a maximum of 6702 cases of harassment of women were registered in 2005 and such cases went up to 8069 in 2006 and 9660 in 2007, followed by 3145 cases of outraging of modesty in 2005, 3978 cases in 2006 and 3775 cases in 2007.

The number of rape cases were 898 in 2005, 1006 in 2006 and 1026 in 2007, the minister said, adding that 255 eve-teasing cases were registered in 2005, 416 such cases in 2006 and 275 such cases in 2007.

He said the number of dowry deaths were 424 in 2005, 495 in 2006 and 582 in 2007.

The Women Commission was being reorganised and Media Monitoring Authority was being created, he said, adding that police presence was being ensured during college hours at all important bus stops and colleges to curb eve-teasing.

Grievance Cell was located in all police headquarters under the control of either the Commissioner of Police or the Superintendent of police, he said, adding that reception counters in each police station across the state functioned as ''grievance cell'' to receive complaints on eve-teasing and and other gender crimes and the cell was monitored by the Station House Officer of the particular police station.

UNI SM KVV RL VC2007