DNA
18.1.11

Top Mumbai police admits to crime spurt: 140 minors, 55 women raped


The Mumbai police on Monday said that cases of rapes of minor girls and other crimes against women are on the rise.

The statistics available with the Mumbai police show that 140 cases of rapes of minor girls were registered last year, whereas 128 were registered in 2009. Also, 469 cases of molestation were registered last year, compared to 395 in 2009.

“It has been seen that in 92% rape cases, the accused is known to the victim. While the cases of rape have increased, the detection rate has also gone up,” said Mumbai police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal.
Interestingly, statistics reveal that rape cases in which the accused was a relative, parent or close family member are few. In most, the victim is either abused by the neighbour or friends.

Citing a few important rape cases like the one involving senior police inspector Arun Borude and the Nehru Nagar serial rape case, Dayal said, “We are sensitive about a police official’s involvement in rape cases.

“The department acted quickly by dismissing Borude from service as soon as his name figured in the case. Also, in the Nehru Nagar rape cases, one case was solved with the arrest of one person. We are working on detecting the remaining two cases.
“We have come across information about people who left the city after the incident came to light.
“Efforts are on to trace them and get their DNA analysed. We have collected over 810 DNA samples.”

Suggesting a disturbing trend, the statistics show that there was a rise in the number of dowry death cases last year, as compared to 2009. However, dowry-related suicide cases and cases of mental and physical harassment for dowry came down last year, as compared to 2009.

The statistics also reveal that 46 brothels were closed down last year in the city. This is the highest number in the past five years.
The number of women rescued from the brothels was 370, including 15 minors.
“We have been taking the help of non-governmental organisations in rehabilitating the women rescued from brothels and prostitution rackets,” the police commissioner said.