In most rape cases offenders known to victim, Delhi HC told

The city police in an affidavit has informed the Delhi High Court that 1704 rape cases were registered with it and in most rape cases, the offender was a person known to the victim.

It said that a total of 215 cases of incestuous rape have been registered in the capital in the first 10 months of this year, which is almost 13 percent of the total 1704 reported rape cases this year.

The police filed the affidavit on a PIL filed through advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal on crime against women.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul would hear the plea Wednesday.

In 43 rape cases, the father was involved and in 27 cases the brother was the offender, revealed the latest data.

In one case the accused turned out to be the victim's grandfather and in another 23 rape cases the stepfather was the accused.

Fathers-in-law were found involved in eight cases, sons-in-law in three cases and brothers-in-law in 74 cases.

Not only this, uncles or maternal uncles were found involved in 32 cases, and in four cases the accused turned out to be a cousin.

The data further revealed that in "352 cases the neighbour was the accused" and in another "83 cases family friend had a role".

Twelve cases each were registered against tutors or instructors and doctors or nursing staff and another five against priests or tantrics, it added.

"Out of the 1613 accused persons arrested in all these cases, 116 were illiterate and 570 were school dropouts, 122 were juveniles and 23 accused were above 50 years of age," said the affidavit.

The Delhi Police said there were 1711 victims in all reported cases out of which four victims were below two years of age, 115 victims were between 2 to 7 years and 127 between 7 to 12 years.

Police said it has been taking certain steps to curb crime against women and now "women officers in civil dresses directly visit the victim in hospitals to record statement and take up investigation" and victims do not have to visit police station.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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