'Crime against women increasing in Arunachal'

Itanagar, Oct 22 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh, with an estimated population of over eleven lakh, recorded 168 incidences of crime against women since 2006 as per the record of Indian National Crime Record Bureau based on a study conducted during 2006 on crime against women in India.

The data included 37 cases of rape, 51 incidents of kidnapping, one dowry death and 14 incidents of cruelty towards women by husbands and relatives. During the period, women also reported 63 cases of molestation and two of sexual harassment.

The statistics, which was placed during a day-long consultation programme on 'Domestic Violence Act and related legal procedures among women and law enforcement agencies in India', organized by the Centre for Social Research (CSR), Delhi along with Arunachal Pradesh Women's Welfare Society (APWWS), offer a glimpse of the types of violence against women perpetrated in the state.

The participants at the workshop deliberated upon issues relating to Law and Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), the present status of implementation of the Act in Arunachal Pradesh and the role of police, judiciary, civil society organizations and media as stakeholders.

It is important to note that the crimes that came to the attention of the Indian National Crime Records Bureau most likely underestimate the actual number of the crimes committed against women since many women feel uncomfortable reporting crimes of domestic nature.

''The delay in the implementation of the PWDVA in the state is the main reason for increasing crime against women,'' commented Dr Rajana Kumari, Director of CSR while speaking on the occasion.

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