In 94% Rape Cases Offenders Are Known To The Survivors: NCRB Data

According to the National Crime Records Bureau Report, 2018, released on Thursday, almost 94 percent of rape cases that took place in 2018 were committed by someone known to the survivor. Moreover, the conviction rate of Rape cases is abysmally low at 27.2 percent only. Of the 1,56,327 rape cases that went on trial in 2018, only 4708 resulted in a conviction.

Key Takeaways:

• The NCRB Report 2018 was released on Thursday, three months after the delayed NCRB Report  2017 was released.
• According to the NCRB crime in India, of all the rape cases that happened in 2018, in 94 percent of the cases, the offender was someone known to the survivor. 
• Moreover, the conviction rate of rape cases is abysmally low at 27.2 percent only. Of the 1,56,327 rape cases that were on trial in 2018, only 4708 resulted in a conviction. 
• Of all the rape cases that went on trial, only 17,313 were completed.

While the country is struggling to cope with the women's safety issue, the conviction rate for rape cases stands at 27.2 percent cases only.

Of 33,356 Rape Cases In 2018, Offender Was A Family Member in 2780 Cases

While 94 percent of rape cases had a known offender, 2780 cases had a family member as an offender. Only in 2036 cases, the offender was an unknown or unidentified person. In 12,568 cases, the accused was either a friend, an online friend, a live-in partner who lured the girl/woman on the pretext of marriage. In the rape cases where the offender was known to the survivor, highest number of such cases were reported from Madhya Pradesh where 5209 such cases were reported. Others in the line are Rajasthan with 3748 cases, and Uttar Pradesh with 3718 cases. In Delhi, where 1215 rape cases were reported, the offender was known to the victim in 98.3 percent cases which amount to 1194 rape cases.

Also Read: We live in fear. Women across India outraged at rape and murder

No Particular Age Group Targeted

A separate report, the NCRB data cited that no particular age group of girls and women was targeted. Women of all age groups were affected. Moving age-wise, 28.8 percent were under 18 years, 10.6 percent were between 12-16 years. The maximum number of such cases (17,636) was reported in the age group of 18-30 years. The survivor list also included 73 women above the age of 60.

Conviction Rate For Rape Cases Only 27.2 Percent

While the country is struggling to cope up with the women's safety issue, the conviction rate for rape cases stands at a low of 27.2 percent cases. Of 1,56,327 rape cases, there was an acquittal in 11, 133 cases and discharge in 1472 cases. According to the rules, a case can be discharged before the charges are framed whereas acquittal can be done only when the trial concludes. The number of pending rape cases stood at a high of 1,38,642 cases.

In the year 2018, the conviction rate decreased as compared to the previous years.

30 Percent Rise In Sexual Abuse Cases In Shelter Homes

The report also cites that the incidents of sexual harassment in shelter homes have increased by 30% in 2018 (over 2017). The report as cited by Hindustan Times, reveals as many as 707 incidents of sexual harassment were reported in 2018 in shelter homes in India.  There is a rise of almost 30% over the 544 such instances reported the previous year.

Also Read: Why Political Parties Should Stop Politicising Rape As Election Agenda