98% rape, molestation accused known to victims: Delhi Police

New Delhi, Jan 6: Despite several new initiatives by Delhi Police to make the national capital safer for women, the year 2011 saw a significant increase in the number of rape and molestation cases than the previous year with 98 per cent of the offenders being either related or known to the victims.

A total of 568 rape cases were reported in the year gone by as compared to 507 in 2010. However, the incidence of rape per lakh population has shown a steady decline in Delhi, coming down from 4.42 per lakh in 2005 to 3.39 per lakh in 2011.

Addressing the Delhi Police Annual Press Conference here, police commissioner BK Gupta said, in over 550 rape cases of the 568 reported in 2011, the offenders were found to be known to the victims.

"Another important factor about rape cases and molestation cases is that in most of the cases the accused were found to be known to the victim or her family. Thus it is seen that these are opportunistic crimes committed in private spaces," Gupta said.

He said only 2 per cent of rapes in 2011 were committed by strangers. In 2010, 3.94 per cent of rapes were committed by strangers.

There has also been an increase in cases of molestation of women in 2011 with 653 cases being reported as against 601 in 2010, he said.

In 2010, the city witnessed 489 rape incidents, including the infamous Dhaula Kuan rape and Mongolpuri, as against 2009's 459. The figure for 2006 was 609 followed by a drop to 581 next year while in 2008 it further dipped to 466.

To reduce the crime against women and make Delhi more safer for the fair sex, Gupta said the Delhi Police would deploy more women police personnel on duty and every police station will have a woman police personnel to interact with complainants.

The Commissioner said women-centric police stations have been established in north and south campuses while five districts in the capital have women Deputy Commissioners of Police and Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police.

He also said 460 women constables have been imparted commando training in 2011 with 25 being imparted advanced training by the CRPF.

On the steps taken to make Delhi safer for women, Gupta said orders have been issued to BPOs and other offices to take steps for safety and security of women while PCR vans have been directed to help stranded women, and surprise checks are being conducted in bus stops, buses, markets and cinema halls.

Gupta said 63 programmes with regard to self-defence training for women were launched in 2011 in various schools and colleges and 6,730 people have been imparted self-defence training.

He said the Delhi Police has also taken a number of initiatives to protect senior citizens in the capital. A senior citizen cell has been functioning in the Police Headquarters under Crime Branch where such people can register their names.

"The beat staff regularly visits them," he said.