Most rape victims in 2013 knew culprits: NCRB

In almost 95 out of every 100 cases of rape registered last year, the culprits were known to their victims, according to a report by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB).

The report titled “Crime In India 2013” says that a total of 33,707 cases of rape were registered under Section 376 of the IPC in the year and in 31,807 cases (94.4 per cent) the culprits were known to their victims.

While in 33.9 per cent of cases, the accused were neighbours, in 7.3 per cent of cases, the accused were related to their victims.

According to the report, the cases of “incest rapes” too are on rise with 536 cases being registered in 2013 compared to 392 in 2012. Shockingly, most of the victims are in the age group of 10-18 years, the report said.

Expressing concern over the rising crime against women, former Governor of Himachal Pradesh Justice (retd) V.S. Kokje told PTI on Sunday that the increase in cases of rapes by acquaintances was an indication of greater social malice.

“This situation cannot be dealt with merely by enacting laws. Society has to take strong initiatives to deal with this situation,” he said.

Psychiatrist Deepak Mansharamani said the easy availability of sexually explicit literature and audio-video, especially through the internet and social media, is fanning the suppressed sexual urge of men in society.

“This urge for immediate gratification of sex continuously sends signals to one’s mind and [as a result] that person does not hesitate in breaching the trust of the woman concerned,” he said.