Crime against women on rise in Meghalaya

Shillong, Oct 8: The National Commission for Women (NCW) today expressed concern over increasing crimes against women in Meghalaya, the only matrilineal society in the country.

Chairperson of Meghalaya State Women Commission Susana Marak contended that the women folk in Meghalaya were no longer safe due to rising crimes against women.

According to official data, the state police has recorded 1,120 cases in different police stations from January to June this year.

While the number of crime cases against women was 73 in 2003, it rose to 110 in 2004 and 138 in 2005.

The crime graph escalated further 2006 with 176 registered cases.

The number of cases was 174 in 2007.

''The NCW is already concerned with the matter and asked the State Women's Commission to find out a solution on the rising crimes against women,'' NCW member Wansuk Syiem told UNI here.

Ms Syiem, who arrived here on Monday, held discussions with Chairperson of Meghalaya State Women's Commission Susana Marak.

''Unlike in other states, we at the National Commission did not expect that crime graph on violence against women would rise so high in a matrilineal society of Meghalaya,'' the NCW member said.

On the low conviction rate, Ms Syiem expressed unhappy with the trend of criminals going scot-free after committing crimes against women and said this has happened due to 'inconsistent police investigation'.

Urging the government to undertake a massive awareness campaign by involving the civil society, Ms Syiem called for an urgent need to study the causes of violence against women.

Recently, several organisations demanded creation of a separate wing headed by a senior police official, proper registration of cases, transfer of pending cases to fast track courts, strengthening of forensic laboratory infrastructure and the need to tackle rising violence against women.

Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home affairs H S Lyngdoh assured the women groups that the police would work in close coordination with the traditional heads and institution to combat such crime.

UNI