As the heat over Bulandshahr gang rape refuses to come down, a CAG report tabled in Uttar Pradesh Assembly has added fuel to the fire. According to the report on the empowerment of women in the state, in the past two years, rape incidents have gone up by 43 per cent in the state.
The most shocking fact is that majority of rape victims are minors, 59 per cent of total victims. Regions which have reported maximum number of rapes include Aligarh (392- rape incidents) followed by Moradabad (377), Allahabad (346) and Agra (328).
Law and order has been a major issue for the Samajwadi Party ever since it formed government in the state. It has faced severe criticism several times on the matter of crimes against women in the state. With the Bulandshahr case, which shook the entire nation, even the High Court pulled up the government for not handing over the probe to the CBI. The state government was later forced to hand over the probe to the CBI.
The report also pointed out that the crimes against women had gone up by 61 per cent between 2011 and 2015, which included crimes like kidnapping of women.
The report also mentioned shortage of police personnel in the state and warned the government that if remedial measures are not taken immediately, crime rate in the state will worsen.
There are 81 cops to protect every one lakh people in the state. This number is well below the UN standards that stipulate 222 cops to protect one lakh people.
The revelations have provided enough ammunition to the opposition to attack the ruling SP government. The BJP spokesperson Viajay Bhadur Pathak said, "Undoubtedly crime against women have gone up badly in the state and BJP has been stressing this point for long, the report has vindicated our stance." Other opposition parties also assailed the government bitterly on this issue.
