Rape-sheet shame for Bengal

Kolkata: With the rate of crime against women on the rise, Bengal can no longer be perceived as a safe haven. While eight cases of rape were reported in the month of February alone, one such case was reported in March.
If you think it’s a fallout of political change in Bengal, think twice. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report revealed that between 2006 and 2010, the rape cases registered a growth of 34%.In 2010 alone, 21,357 rape cases were reported.
According to the report, the state has the second lowest rate of conviction in the country. In fact, conviction rates of crime against women have seen a fall of 1.8 % since the year 2006.
Commenting on the rising number of rape and sexual harassment cases, Dolon Ganguly of Maitree, a city- based women’s rights network, said that the role of the police and administration has been extremely nauseating. “The chief minister herself, even before the inquiries were over, commented that the Park Street and Katwa rape cases were false. The sports minister made an objectionable remark on the character of the woman attacked in Park Street,” she said at a press meet on Monday. “Our first demand is that both Mamata Banerjee and Madan Mitra must apologise for calling the rape cases ‘cooked-up stories’,” Dolon added.
A senior state police officer said, “It is very difficult to quantify the increase in crime against women through dry statistics. The reporting of crime against women has definitely increased compared to earlier years. Women now come forward to lodge a complaint. Earlier they refused to do so. Today police officers have also been sensitized to handle such crime with promptness and sincerity.”
However, members of women’s rights organizations felt that ministers, police personnel, administrators who were in charge of maintaining law and order, instead of fixing responsibility on the criminals, end up blaming the victim. “The fear of attacks on our bodies results in our being deprived of the right to free and unfettered mobility. Stop moral policing. Your morality is a shackle on our feet, a noose around our neck,” said a women’s rights activist.
They also referred to an incident where a rape victim in Baranagar died of excessive bleeding because of the callousness of police and the administration. While protesting a collective sexual attack, a policeman lost his life in Bishorpara near Calcutta Airport, they said.
Even more alarming is the fact that despite police claims of tough enforcement and action against the accused, the number of crimes against women has been on the rise.