According to the report released by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), Uttrakhand has registered over 22% rise in the crime against women and children. The number of crime against women has increased to 1,944 in 2017 from 1,588 cases in 2016.Of the total crimes committed against women, 435 cases of assault topped the charts followed by rape(374), kidnapping (371), Dowry deaths (60) and acid attack(3) were other major crimes registered against women in 2017. Of the total incidents of rape, almost 160 survivors were minors. Also, in 80% of rapes, the offenders were known to the victims. In case of crime against children, UK recorded 829 cases in 2017, compared to 676 in 2016, making it the second worst state after Assam among the Himalayan states, the NCRB report has revealed.
In UK, the major crimes reported against children included kidnapping (336), rape (150) and murder (8). Police also arrested 503 people in connection with crimes against children, of which 55 were charge sheeted and 31 were acquitted by Courts.
The NCRB report also stated that almost 159 juveniles committed crimes in 2017, with an almost 28% increase from the figure of 124 in 2016. Maximum 59 juveniles in conflict with law were held in theft cases, 14 for robbery, 7 for rape and 5 for attempt to commit murder.
According to a senior police officer, “The rise in the number of registered cases is the reflection of police department’s consistent efforts to ensure that people come to police stations and register the crime. Earlier, major crimes would simply go unreported.”