Visakhapatnam: As per the latest statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau, every day, at least two women are raped in Andhra Pradesh. A total of 961 rape cases were reported in the state in 2014 and ironically in 838 cases (87.2 per cent) of them, the offenders were known to the victims.
The data also revealed that Vizag recorded the maximum rapes (84 cases, of which 33 victims were minors) in the state followed by Vijayawada with 64 rapes in 2014. NCRB statistics shows that in 838 cases, the victims knew the offenders who included 212 neighbours, 35 close family members, 61 relatives, seven employers or co-workers and 522 other known persons.
Sources in the police said that breach of trust is the major reason for more and more women and girls in Andhra Pradesh being victims in rape cases. Vizag city police chief Amit Garg said that in sexual offences against minor girls, 99 per cent of the crimes are committed by known persons, mostly neighbors and family friends. Activists of various women’s organizations meanwhile argue that the legal system is slow in prosecuting rape cases.
The number of rape cases has increased in Vizag city and this indicates that Andhra Pradesh is not a safe place for women. They add that most victims are yet to come forward to lodge complaints due to various reasons.
