As many as 302 of the total 2,473 rapists booked in 1,843 rape cases were relatives of the victim,according to the annual crime data researched by the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department. In fact,90 of them were parents; the balance 212 relatives. Rapes by relatives (as distinct from parents) has seen a dramatic 112 per cent jump in 2012 compared with the previous year where 96 rapists were relatives of victims,prompting the state police to identify incest as the most disturbing crime trend of 2012. The number of parents booked for rape has also increased 27 per cent from 63 in 2011 to 90 in 2012. We have seen a huge increase in the number of incestual rape. This is peculiar to Maharashtra. We have shared this fact with the state government hierarchy,including the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary, said DGP Sanjeev Dayal. Further,in 95.55 per cent of the rape cases in the state,the accused was known to the victim,the data showed. In 88 cases,the accused was a paramour with rape registered after a failed relationship. Of the total 2,473 booked for rape in 1,843 rape cases,675 were victims neighbours,436 friends and colleagues,845 unrelated but known,eight landlords and nine teachers. This is most cruel crime. If a woman cannot trust her own parent,her own brother or other relatives,then where are we going as a society. We need to introspect much deeper in the ways to tackle this and this needs to be a collective effort, said Dayal. We also need to involve NGOs,womens groups,schools where we need to teach a girl to what extent can a relationship be taken forward. There needs to be an intervention. Starting this year,Dayal added that statistics will be used to draft a policy document. We are looking at this data of incest to be our first such initiative where we are now going to involve the efforts of other stakeholders and look for initiatives. The idea is to create deterrence and we need to do it soon. he added. Mumbai,also capital for crime against women Mumbai,the capital of Maharashtra,also earns the dubious distinction of having registered 1,851 IPC cases of 'crime against women',the maximum amongst all cities in the state in 2012. This accounts for 10.4 per cent of the total 17,800 IPC crime against women cases in the state,according to data released on Monday by the Maharashtra Police. Compared with the previous year,the number of crimes against women in the state have increased by 591 in 2012.
