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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Crimes against women in Mumbai up 59% in a year -Nitasha Natu

Crimes against women in Mumbai up 59% in a year -Nitasha Natu

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published Published on Nov 26, 2014   modified Modified on Nov 26, 2014
-The Times of India

Mumbai: Crimes against women in Mumbai soared 59% during April 2013 to March 2014 compared with the previous financial year while convictions in serious offences stood at an abysmal 8%. Data compiled by the NGO Praja concludes that understaffing and multiplicity of tasks in the police force are compromising investigation and, in turn, affecting conviction.

A third of Mumbai's population feels unsafe living in the city, according to a poll conducted by Praja's research partners. Of the 22,580 citizens surveyed, 32% said they feel insecure living in Mumbai while 36% said they feel insecure while travelling from one place to another inside the city.

Cases of rape rose to 432 in FY 2013-14 from 294 in the previous financial year. Those of molestation shot up to 1,209 from 793 and chain-snatching to 2,110 from 1,269 in the corresponding period. The NGO attributed the rise to the new system created by the police where complainants are encouraged to come forward and report offences. Interestingly, murder cases fell to 171 from 202 as did vehicle thefts.

Area-wise, North Central Mumbai - Vile Parle, Kurla and Bandra - was where crime was the most rampant in the city with 734 burglaries, 1,598 thefts and 819 stolen vehicles reported in April 2013-March 2014. Former MLAs of the region, though, showed little interest in asking questions on crime issues, the NGO said.

Currently, while the city has a sanctioned strength of 41,643 police personnel, only a little over 37,159 are working-the shortfall works out to 11%. The strength of middle-level officers such as assistant inspectors (API) and sub-inspectors (PSI), who primarily investigate cases, is inadequate. "A fully manned force would mean that officers handling criminal cases can focus solely on investigation rather than being summoned to perform bandobast duty. Such cases would be watertight and the guilty will not go unpunished," said Nitai Mehta, founder of Praja.

The overall conviction rate was 22% this financial year. Specifically, the conviction rate of serious cases, involving bodily harm, improved slightly from 7% in 2012 to 8% in 2013; this is still very low, though. "A study of acquitted cases shows that 'lack of evidence' was the chief reason for acquittals. This shows lack of coordination between the investigating officer and the public prosecutor," said Milind Mhaske, project director, Praja.

The NGO recommended that infrastructure be created for continuous training, forensic labs, crime mapping and crime forecasting. Mumbai police spokesperson, DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni, did not respond when TOI sent highlights of the NGO's report to him for comment.


The Times of India, 25 November, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Crimes-against-women-in-Mumbai-up-59-in-a-year/articleshow/45276712.cms


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