Even as West Bengal achieved the dubious distinction of having the highest incidence of crime against women for the second year running in 2012 according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the State government disputed the facts here on Wednesday, saying it was “a misrepresentation” of the facts as its disclaimers sent to the NCRB had not been published.
The NCRB on Tuesday pointed out that West Bengal recorded 30,942 crime cases against women in 2012. They include 2,046 cases of rape, 4,168 of kidnapping, 593 of dowry deaths and 19,865 of domestic cruelty.
“We have given them [NCRB] the disclaimers. They have said they will not publish it. We have further written to them to please publish it so that misconceptions arising in the media are removed,” Director General of Police Naparajit Mukherjee told journalists.
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“The figure for rapes has come down considerably,” Mr. Mukherjee said, adding that most cases registered are under Section 498 A of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to domestic abuse on women.
Rape cases recorded during 2012 is 1,978, he maintained although the NCRB recorded 2,046 such cases — the highest in the country after Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
In 2011, the State had recorded 29,133 incidents of crime against women which was also highest in the country. The number of rape cases then was 2,317.
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“Positive side”
Expressing concern over the rise in crime against women, chairperson of the State’s Women Commission Sunanda Mukherjee, however, said the statistics reflected a positive side. “Women are coming out in greater numbers to register complaints of atrocities committed against them.”
Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said it was a matter of “shame” for the State.