Many crimes against women are due to love affairs: Assam govt.

Assam government on Monday informed the Assembly that a large number of cases of crime against women in the State were related to “love affairs” in which complainants were found to have compromised with the accused instead of pursuing the complaints with the police.

Replying on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain informed the House, in reply to a question raised by Asom Gana Parishad member Keshav Mahanta, that the State recorded total 54,660 cases of crime against women over the past three years and seven months. Year-wise break of these cases was: 2011-- 11503, 2012--13544, 2013--17449 and in 2014 (up to July 2014)—12164.

During this period the State recorded 6,585 incidents of rape with 1,202 incidents taking place between January 1 and July 31 as against 1,960 incidents recorded in 2013, 1,716 incidents in 2012 and 1,707 incidents in 2011.

Incidents of witch-hunting claimed 58 lives during the period. Besides, the state recorded 4,948 murders, 15,689 abductions, 3,960 incidents of extortion, 35,565 theft, 983 incidents of dacoity and 96 incidents of bomb or grenade blasts during this period.

Mr. Mahanta alleged that the figures reflected the failure on the part of the present government to prevent crimes, more particularly crime against women. The Minister, however, said that while the State Government had constituted committees to go into the causes behind various crimes against women and suggest remedial measures, the increase in number of cases was also attributable to enactment of some legislations enacted by the UPA government to prevent crime against women and children, which he said, encouraged women to report such crimes.

Police posts

The Minister also informed the House that altogether 14,356 posts of the total 75,559 sanctioned posts in Assam Police were currently lying vacant and steps had been initiated to fill the vacant posts.

A time frame for filling up vacant government posts cannot be set as three per cent government employees retire every year and such posts had to be filled up following due procedures, he said.