‘Rapists known to 96 per cent victims’

Police records show a downward trend in the number of rape cases this year, but the alarming fact is that in 96 per cent of the cases, people known to the victim committed the crime, reports Karan Choudhury.

Police records show a downward trend in the number of rape cases this year, but the alarming fact is that in 96 per cent of the cases, people known to the victim committed the crime.

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In 2009, the police registered around 226 cases of rape in the city. Out of them, in only eight cases people not known to the victim were responsible for the crime.

“In the first half of 2009, there has been a decline in the number of rape cases in the city. But as we have seen in most cases, the accused was known to the victim,” said Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal.

According to police records, in 46.46 per cent cases neighbours were involved in the incident. Also, most vulnerable to rape are minors.

Dadwal said the Anti-Obscene Calls Cell started by Delhi Police managed to help a large number of women.

Till date, the cell has received 9,055 calls from people in the city and also from Punjab and Haryana. Police have taken effective action in 7,410 cases.

“Our cell is constantly working towards taking action against people who make obscene calls. We take all calls made to us for help seriously,” said Dadwal.