Over 2,150 rape cases in Karnataka in 3 years: House panel

More than 2,150 rape cases were registered in Karnataka in the past three years, says a report of an official committee, calling for the need for non-bailable warrant against accused and bringing the crime under the stringent Goonda Act.
Citing information provided by the state home department, a Karnataka Legislature Women and Child Welfare committee said 31,915 cases of atrocities against women were recorded in three years from 2010 to 2012.
The report of the panel, which looked into issues such as rape, atrocity, domestic violence, dowry harassment, child marriage and exhibition of obscene films, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly today.

The atrocity cases against women include rape (2157), sexual harassment (9201) and dowry death (936).
The panel recommended that non-bailable warrant should be issued against accused in rape cases, where doctor's report should be considered as the main proof, and called for conduct of "In-camera proceedings" by amending the relevant law.
Rape cases should be brought under the purview of Goonda Act, it said, adding, government should give compensation immediately, and provide full treatment to rape victims, whether they are women or children.

Lack of coordination among police and prosecution departments, advocates and the court is the key reason for delay in disposing of atrocity cases against women, the committee felt, and urged the government to come out with solutions in this regard urgently and implement them.

Training should be given to police officials and personnel vis-a-vis atrocity cases and crime against them, and a women crime investigation department should be started in police stations with teams comprising those trained.
It recommended to the Government to bring it to the notice of Press Council of India regarding sensationalising crime against women on private news channels and take steps to ban such telecast. The government should take immediate steps to ban obscene video and visual clips beamed through cell phones and internet, the committee suggested.