By IANS,
Guwahati : Despite the Assam and central governments investing huge amounts of money for the modernization of the state police forces, the crime rate, particularly crimes against women, has been on the rise in Assam.
A total of 7,164 rape cases were registered in various police stations in Assam during the last five years – between January 2006 and December 2011. According to official records, a total of 11,553 women were kidnapped during this period in the state.
Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain gave the shocking details in the state assembly Monday on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is also in-charge of the state home department.
“The state police have arrested 5,663 criminals during the period regarding the rape cases while a total of 7,021 criminals have been nabbed regarding the women abduction cases,” said the minister.
There were also 191 cases of women trafficking registered in various police stations in Assam during the past five years. Regarding the women trafficking cases, police have arrested 264 criminals during the period.
It may be mentioned here that the northeastern state of Manipur had earned the dubious distinction of recording the highest rate of crimes in the country followed by Assam in 2010, as per a report prepared by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRD). As per the report, Assam was the country’s fourth most dangerous place to live in due to its high crime rate.
There are 227 full-fledged police stations in various districts of Assam followed by 217 police outposts.
The data are frustrating as huge amounts have been spent to modernize the state police force.
While the central government had sanctioned an amount of Rs.57,502.17 lakh for the modernization of the police force between 2001 to 2011, the state government had sanctioned an additional amount of Rs.4,717.12 lakh to modernize the state’s police force during the period.
The Assam police have procured a total of 32,627 arms, 51,693 magazines, 10,63,875 bullet rounds and a total of 2,21,560 explosives between 2001 to 2011, the minister informed.