AP records 1,191 rape cases in 2012, 100 less than in 2011

Andhra Pradesh recorded 1.66 lakh cognisable offences till November this year, with a slight rise of one per cent as compared to 1.64 lakh cases reported during the same period last year, while the number of rape cases decreased by 7.8 per cent.

Andhra Pradesh Director-General of Police (DGP) V Dinesh Reddy gave this information during the annual press meet of the state police in Hyderabad today.

The overall crime situation (in the state) was under control, though there were a number of challenges on crime and law and order front, including the Telanga march held in the city on September 30, which were tackled successfully by AP Police this year and it effectively controlled communalism, factionalism and left-wing extremism, Reddy said. 

Rape cases decreased by 7.8 per cent with 1,191 rape cases reported till November this year as against 1,291 cases recorded last year, the DGP said adding, At a time when the nation is very much troubled with the crime against women...we made a rapid progress as far as our state is concerned. Kidnapping cases dropped to 1,405 this year from 1,514 last year, he said. However, the number of economic offences increased by 15.98 per cent with 9,626 cases recorded this year as close to around Rs 1,500 crore amount was at stake in such offences while 8,299 such cases were booked last year even as cases of cheating rose by 16.48 per cent with 8,441 cases reported this year as against 7,247 in 2011, he said.   

Reacting to a query on demand for death sentence for the accused involved in rape cases, the DGP said, We will have to take a consensus by going in for elaborate discussions on this issue with the think-tank of criminologists, law-makers, eminent lawyers and then only we can be able to come to a conclusion on the matter.

Police has 1.4 lakh personnel, though we don't have ample women police force. We have miles to go in recruiting more women police force. It is adequate women police force...but still we have to recruit more, the AP DGP said. Reddy said the AP Police formed more number of cells in the CID and special emphasis has been given for tackling the problems of aged, children and women.

Factors like immediate investigation and rounding up of accused and speedy justice are proving deterrents in crime against women, he said. Special steps have been taken to prevent crime against women by having coordination committees in several colleges to prevent assault on them, drive against eve-teasing among other such measures. Reacting to incidents of communal tension reported near Charminar in the state capital and some other districts of Andhra Pradesh, he said, I don't think communalism is on the rise in the state. Whenever such incidents were reported, they have been effectively handled by the state police.

Referring to the communal violence and imposition of curfew in Sangareddy town of Medak district in March this year after a picture of a religious place was uploaded on a social networking site, he said, Such incidents hurt the sentiments and flare up communal passions. We have to ask the social networking providers to withdraw such provocative content. The Cyber Crime Cell is being activated to detect such persons who are tampering on the social media network, he said and stressed on the need for social media to have a social responsibility as they also owe responsibility to the society. Unless and until the curbs are clearly earmarked, there is lot to be done on this front. Public should also not misuse social network and social media network operators should also think in terms of certain controls, Reddy added

- PTI