Debating over the recent rape and murder of a young veterinarian in Hyderabad, the incident that has sparked nation-wide protests, Rajya Sabha member, Smt. Jaya Bachchan today advocated public lynching as a way of meting out justice in rape cases. Public lynching, though perhaps extreme, would be the only way to put an end for once and all to such crimes against women she said.
A serious thought and research is the prime and utmost need of the hour is to understand how such heinous crime had repetitive reoccurrence in whole of the country despite wide condemnation and severe punishments. The phenomenon is a “total disgrace to all principles of humanity.” Rajya Sabha leaders also called for fast-tracking the case and exemplary punishment for the culprits.
Jammu and Kashmir, though rechristened into two Union Territories too had a dismal record in the matter of crime against women despite all out boasting of our cultural heritage and ethos. The available data from the Crime Gazette- 2018 released by the Crime Branch of JKP, the disturbing trend witnessed increase in rape incidents registered by the police that rose to 354 last year over 317 in 2017.
As per figures, of 354 rape incidents were recorded in 2018, the highest 55 such incidents were registered in Jammu district followed by 29 incidents in Rajouri, 27 in Udhampur, 22 in Reasi, 20 in Poonch, 16 in Ramban, 14 in Kathua, 12 in Doda, nine in Kishtiwar and seven in Samba.
In Kashmir division, the highest 21 rape incidents were registered in central Kashmir's Budgam district followed by 20 rape incidents in Anantnag district, 18 in Srinagar, 17 in Kupwara, 15 in Kulgam, 11 in Sopore, 10 in Baramulla, seven each in Bandipora and Ganderbal, five each in Awantipora and Leh, three each in Pulwama and Shopian, while one rape incident was registered by police in Handwara and Kargil recorded zero rape incident.
The official figures reveal that 3623 cases of crime against women including rape were registered by police in the state in 2018.
Of 3623 cases, the highest 1602 cases were registered under 354 RPC for molestation and outraging the modesty of women. The number of such incidents registered in 2017 was 1422.
Last year 1079 cases of kidnapping and abduction of women and girls were registered against 960 such cases in 2017. Similarly, police registered 325 cases under section 498 RPC (cruelty by husband or relatives of husband) in 2018 against 375 in 2017, an increase of 50 such cases in a year.
Police also registered 167 cases of abetment and attempt to suicide by women in 2018 against 153 such cases registered in 2017, an increase of 14 such cases in a year.
It is often said that the law for dealing with such incidents were not stringent and suggested that fast track courts should established and be empowered to order surgical or chemical castration for serious offences like rape and murder.
As a society, it is our sensitivity towards the issue of great concern that would set the course of evolving effective and speedy delivery of justice to the victim and our solace to our conscience. The state should take queue from the Delhi government that deserves all compliments in taking supersonic decision to recommend rejection of mercy petitions filed by accused of infamous Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts. Now, it is time that Lt Governor of Delhi clears file for rejection immediately for further forwarding to President of India. All such formality of file-movement can be done even on a single day.
Ensuring hanging on 16.12.2019 on anniversary of the heinous crime will provide a sigh of relief not only to parents of Nirbhaya but to entire countrymen giving some hope of fast justice in case of recent repeat-incident by rape-cum-murder of Dr Priyanka Reddy.
