Delhi: One girl raped every 12 hours, one crime against kids every hour

One child became a victim of a crime every hour in 2016 and 2015. In 2016, till September, 6,273 crimes against children were reported across Delhi.

Delhi was shamed again when a four-year-old girl was raped and murdered on Thursday afternoon. But such incidents are not new in a city that is also notoriously known as the rape capital of India.

A four-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Delhi on Feb 24, 2017. (Saarthak Aurora / HT Photo)

Three months ago, a four-year-old girl was brutalized and murdered, allegedly by her father’s friend. The culprit was captured on CCTV camera luring the girl to a secluded place.

In April last year, an eight-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped and murdered, allegedly by her next door neighbour in Kali Basti near Uttam Nagar. The girl’s partly clothed body was found buried under mud in a pond in a forested area, 150 metres from her home.

Delhi Police statistics till September 30 last year show that at least one girls was raped every 12 hours in Delhi in 2016.

One child became a victim of a crime every hour in 2016 and 2015. In 2016, till September, 6,273 crimes against children were reported across Delhi.

In 2015, a total of 9,469 crimes against children were reported in the city. Out of the total crimes in 2015, 985 cases of rape and 1,284 molestation cases were registered. A total of 6,869 cases of kidnapping of children were reported in 2015 while in 2016, 4652 such cases were registered till September 30.

According to the national crime records bureau (NCRB) data, 3,039 juveniles were apprehended for committing crimes in Delhi in 2015. Of them, 946 children were sent back home after advice and admonition while 438 were sent to special homes after they were found guilty.

Data shows that 723 apprehended children were released on probation and placed under care of their parents and guardians. NCRB data shows that 157 apprehended juveniles were acquitted in 2015 while investigation remained pending against 1,271 juveniles in conflict with law.

Asked why cases of crime against children have been rising in Delhi, a senior police officer said, “Among all other groups, children remain the most vulnerable lot. Our data shows that in almost 94% of the sexual crimes against children reported in the past couple of years, the accused were known to the victims.”

“A majority of such crimes are reported from unauthorized colonies. The proximity of children with their neighbours makes them a vulnerable lot,” the officer added.