Alappuzha: Atrocities against women continue to be on the rise in Kerala as per the data published on the police website.
It shows 4,653 cases of crimes against women till April this year. They include 655 rapes, 1,517 molestation, 60 abductions, 133 eve-teasings, two dowry deaths and 931 cases of domestic violence.
Ernakulam tops the list with 611 cases while Thiruvananthapuram stood second with 584.
The disturbing trend comes at a time when social justice department is taking various steps, including a 24x7 helpline for women in distress.
Women rights activists demand strict action to ensure justice to the victims and award stringent punishment to culprits.
They also want improved facilities at courts for speedy trials and disburse already announced interim relief for sex crime victims, both children and adults, and steps to strengthen the women police force.
M. C. Josephine, chairperson, Kerala Women’s Commission (KWC), promised to hold awareness campaigns against the rising crimes.
“The trend of setting women ablaze with petrol by jilted lovers and then sacrificing themselves is on the steady increase,” she said.
“The commission sees such acts with utmost seriousness. It’s our responsibility to sensitise society against such social aberration. We need to develop a culture of registering complaints immediately after women feel threatened.” Last year there were 13,736 crimes against women reported, the data show.
There has been a general upward trend in the number of rapes with 554 in 2009, 617 in 2010, 1132 in 2011, 1019 in 2012, 1221 in 2013, 1347 in 2014, 1256 in 2015, 1656 in 2016, 2003 in 2017, 2015 in 2018.
