At least three cases of rape are reported in the State every day, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told the Assembly on Wednesday.
He was quoting figures in a State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) report tabled in the Assembly.
As many as 981 rape cases were reported in the State during the January-September period year. Of this, 550 related to rape of those in the 1-17 age group, Mr. Chennithala said in reply to a question by K.S. Saleekha (Communist Party of India). Thirvuananthapuram district recorded the highest number of rapes (143), followed by Kollam (121), Ernakulam (93), Thrissur (90), and Kozhikode (68).
Among the cities, Thiruvananthapuram registered 52 cases, followed by Ernakulam (47), and Kozhikode (23). Kasaragod district registered the lowest, 37.
The said period also saw 3,390 cases of molestation, 111 kidnap, 206 eve-teasing, 16 dowry deaths, 3,705 cases of cruelty by ‘husband and relatives,’ and 2,281 other offences against women. In all, 10,690 cases of crime against women were reported until September this year.
As many as 223 male children were sexually abused during the period, resulting in 211 arrests. The police arrested 1,089 persons in connection with the 981 rape cases, but trial had not been completed in even one.
As many as 625 persons had been arrested for rape of those in the 1-17 age group. Of the accused, 19 were government, semi-government, public sector, IT, and private sector employees. The accused included government doctors; police, forest, Fire and Rescue Services, and excise personnel; teachers in the government and aided sector; and Kerala State Electricity Board and Kerala Water Authority officials. As many as 124 harassment and 13 rape cases were registered against police personnel after the United Democratic Front came to power, Mr. Chennithala said.
In 2013, 1,221 cases of rape, 4,362 molestation, 185 kidnap, 404 eve-teasing, 21 dowry death, 4,820 cases of cruelty by ‘husband and relatives’ and 2,725 other offences were reported to the police.
