In nearly 95% rape cases, accused is known to victim, reveals NCRB data

Girls and women are more vulnerable to their own relatives and acquaintances than unknown persons on the issue of sex-related crimes, data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) "Crime in India 2016" report has indicated.

Highlighting rape figures, the report has stated that "in 2016, the accused of rapes in 94.6 cases are none other than the victim's relatives including brother, father, grand-father, sons or acquaintances."

The report showed that in the year 2016, a total of 38,947 cases of rape were registered in the country under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) as well as Section 376 and other related sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Among these 38,947 cases, in 36,859 matters, accused are related to the victims, it said.

Similarly, it said that in 630 cases, victims were allegedly raped by grand-father, father, brother and son while in 1,087 cases the accused were acquaintances.

Besides in 2,174 cases, the accused are relatives and in 10,520 matters, it was neighbours who were facing charges of rape, it said.

In 600 cases, employers and co- workers are accused of rape, the report said.

The NCRB report also stated that in 2016, in 557 cases, the accused are live-in partners, husband and ex-husbands.

Similarly, in 10,068 cases, women were raped on the promise of marriage.

It also states that in the remaining 11,223 cases, the victims in some manner or the other knew the accused.

Expressing concern over these figures, National Commission of Women (NCW) chairperson, Rekha Sharma told PTI, "In our society there is lot of restrictions imposed on girls. But now it is enough. Time has come when boys should be taught from childhood how to behave with women as per our social values."

She said that porn material is easily available on internet. In such a scenario, parents should keep a watch on the mobile phones and computers.