---- Leena Mehendale, IAS

• There are more than thousand rape cases per year in Maharashtra.
• During the last ten years, a total of 11675 rapes were committed.
• Taking the 1996 population which was 9.27 crores, the average rate of rape crimes was 126 per one crore.

•    Throughout the decade the districts Raigarh, Kolhapur, Sangli, and Satara have remained the districts of low crime rate as well as lower rate of number of rapes. These are also the districts where the rate in 1996 is lower than the 10 yr average.
• In Ratnagiri the rates have steadily and steeply gone up, while in Latur and Gadchiroli they have steeply come down.
• Sudden jumps, by more than double are seen between 1998 and 1999 in Nanded, Beed and Osmanabad.

• It is seen that just the 7 districts of Mumbai, Nagpur, Thane, Amravati, Pune, Bhandara and Yavatmal account for more than half of the number of rapes committed. Out of the above, Mumbai, Thane and Pune have a high population; hence the rate of offence of rape in these three districts is low. Gadchiroli registered a very high number in 96 but its 10 year average is slightly lower.
• Nagpur and Amravati have a very high share in rapes, much beyond their share in population. In that order, the real culprit districts appear to be Nagpur, Amravati, Bhandara, Yavatmal, Chandrapur , Wardha and Gadchiroli; while Thane also shares a little more in rapes than in population.
• By and large, all the five districts of Nagpur Division and the two districts Amravati and Yavatmal from Amravati Division have shown a very large number of rapes as well as a very high rate of this criminality.
• The districts Gadchiroli and Chandrapur that are predominantly tribal districts have very high rate of rapes. Given the general feeling that the crime incidence of rape is lower among tribal, this calls for a more detailed study of those who were accused and those who were victims.

6. So we can see what kind of analysis and implementation strategy is possible. The existing crime records give us some district specific clues and recommendations. For example, it suggests that -  

(i) The Home Deptt. of Maharashtra may immediately take a review of their police strength and efficiency of investigation including preventing measures in the Nagpur and Amravati divisions so as to control the higher rate of rapes in these Divisions. 

(ii) Ratnagiri has shown a sharp increase in 1998. The reasons for such increase in an otherwise peace-loving and women- respecting district like Ratnagiri need to be searched. This can be taken up by the Supdt. of Police of Ratnagiri. 

(iii) Special efforts are needed to reduce the higher rate of crime in Amravati (Rural) and Nagpur (both urban and rural). 

(iv) Special study sould be undertaken to find out the socio-economic profile of the victims and the accused in the tribal blocks of Amravati and Nagpur divisions, as well as in tribal blocks of Nashik and Thane districts.

  It will be worthwhile to compare this data with the situation in Dhule which is also predominantly tribal district but with low rate of rapes. It is pertinent to note that the tribals of Dhule district have slightly better land-holdings than the tribals of other districts of Maharashtra.

7. In all the above analysis two factors are not being considered. In many cases of rapes the societical conditions and the fear of stigma on the victim girl prevent her and her family from making a complaint to the police. In many cases they are also afraid of the humiliating manner and questions that are asked by police and therefore refrain from making a complaint. In many more cases the police closes the complaint without registering FIR and without making further investigation butby stating that there was not enough evidence to proceed with the cases. More cases of first two types will come to light by a better awareness and sensitization programmes and support systems which can be provided by the NGOs. For taking case of the third type of cases, which are commonly called “NC” cases, it should be made compulsory for the police to register FIR for each and every case of complaint of rape made to them and bring up it before the court whatever be the preliminary findings. It should also be compulsory to report of this data on a monthly basis to NCRB who should then publish the same in their annual reports. A comparison of the number of crimes recorded and the number of “cases closed without investigation” can be a key indicator about the working of the police in the district.

8. Surprisingly the district of Ahmadnagar as compared to other districts was comparatively a low crime district (as far as rape was concerned) except during 1996. This image of Ahmadnagar will now remain shattered forever in the wake of recent incidence of collective and multiple rapes committed by young dacoits on the women of village Kothewadi. This was a case of a gang rape as well as mass rape which was so far unheard of in Maharashtra and can be considered as the most obnoxious crime. It has so far, also eluded all explanations of traditional types. The gory details of the incidence are indicative of the new methods and psyche being brought into crime scenario by the media depictions of women.

9. Some new aspects and some theoretical questions go beyond the analysis of the data -

(I) There is a sharp increase in organized rape and sexual exploitation of women. The incidence like mass rapes in Kothewadi is likely to repeat. It will require a very different and concerted approach to prevent any such incidence in future. It is quite obvious that such thinking and efforts have not yet started. 

(II) In recent past, we have also faced the sex scandals in Jalgaon (in 1994) and Satara (2001) in which women were given temptation of jobs, were lured into sexual act and their photographs were taken in compromising situations and they were subjected to further repeated blackmails, rape and other forms of sexual exploitation. Such a criminal activity went on for a long period of one to two years involving several girls who were victimized and several males who had organized such victimization. These cases came to light only after long periods had elapsed and therefore became difficult to prove even though their gravity was much higher. 

(III) Perhaps the worst was not over. In Parbhani district, we heard the case of one girl student being called by her several teachers to give her the “most expected questions” for the next day’s. She was gangraped by her own teachers. This incidence strikes at the very root of Indian culture where it is believed that true knowledge comes only through a very pure relationship and understanding between the teacher and the student.

10. Although the cases of gang rapes, mass rapes and scandals like the above have started occuring with alarming frequency, the police has not yet started maintaining separate or specialised investigations. This must be started immediately so that the problem is monitored properly and its solution is tried early.

11. It must be mentioned that this article is meant to analyse only the profile of crimes against women which are brought up to the police. It does not discuss the questions of -  

(i) Poor rate of conviction.

(ii) Enormous delay in justice delivery.

(iii) Attitude and ethical/legal responsibility of the defence lawyers.

(iv) Efficiency or otherwise of the prosecution machinery.

(v) Inadequate monitoring by the apex courts.

(vi) Inadequate and at times faulty examination by the forensic agencies.

(vii) Faulty investigation and improper handling or mishandling of the evidence material by the police. 

Each of these aspects are important in reducing the rate of crime and ensuring proper justice. Each, therefore, merits a separate detailed study and analysis.