Crimes against women are on the rise

August 19: Cases of outrage of modesty and non-dowry deaths of women have increased during the last one year, a workshop on Women and Crim...

August 19: Cases of outrage of modesty and non-dowry deaths of women have increased during the last one year, a workshop on Women and Crime’ revealed. This rise in crimes against women comes after a decrease in rape and dowry related murders or suicide in Mumbai during the last two years, say statistics by the city police department. Also on the rise is the misappropriation of streedhan and the sale of obscene literature.

Organised by the Juvenile Aid Police Unit’, the workshop was attended by over 70 representatives of various social organisations under the Mahila Dakshata Samiti. The workshop aimed at familiarising social workers with the scope of various provisions of the IPC and their correct usage.

Chief Public Prosecutor Ravindra Patil said it is essential for a complaint to be lodged in case of abortions.The doctor who advertises his services for a Sex Determination Test’ or aborts a foetus with no congenital defects faces 3 years imprisonment. Said Jt CP R S Sharma, Section 304-B requires proof that bodily injuries or burns are caused to the woman immediately before her death, which is difficult to prove in the absence of eye witnesses. ACP S P Yadav said, “In order to prove a dowry death, neighbours’ statements are concrete proof. Letters written by the deceased woman bearing the date on the postal stamp and medical papers relating to any treatment undergone by the woman after torture can also be produced as evidence. Receipts of objects bought by the woman’s parents and sent to her after marriage as additional dowry should also be preserved.”