121 cases filed for crime against women in over three months

The police may have swung into action these days to bring improvement in the deteriorating law and order conditions but the fact remains that the crime against women continues unabated in the industrial city.

At least it is shown in the data available with the Police Department. In the past about three-and-a-half months, 121 cases have been registered by the police for crime against women.

Since January 1 to April 14, a total of 121 cases of various nature of crime against women were registered at different police stations under the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate.

As many as 23 cases were registered under Section 376 of the IPC, now Sections 64-71 of the BNS (sexual assault on women). Maximum cases against women/girls/minor girls, around 54 cases, were registered under various sections of the IPC for kidnapping, procreation of minor girls at different police stations in the city. Besides, 23 cases are registered under Sections 498 (A), now Section 85 of the BNS (cruelty by husband/in-laws) in the past three-and-a-half months. Nineteen other cases of assault, criminal force were registered under Section 354, IPC, (74/75 BNS) by the police and one case under POCSO Act was also registered.

One of the officials working with the Police Department said these were the cases, which were reported to the police while there were several others which go unnoticed due to social pressure and other reasons. “Women are moving much ahead of their male counterparts in many fields, still the mentality of many people has still not witnessed any change and they continue to see women as an object,”rued the official.

Many times, women avoid talking to even male members of their families in case any atrocities were committed against them due to various reasons.

Meanwhile talking to The Tribune, Swapan Sharma, Commissioner of Police, said women and girls need to come forward with their complaints. “We will make sure that the police cooperate fully in cases of crime against women. Still, if women feel reluctant to talk to officials at police stations, we are planning to depute lady staff in stations so that such victims can speak openly about their issues and culprits are booked under law,” he said.