AHMEDABAD: The rape of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe children increased by 13% in 2020 as compared to 2019. Of the total cases of rape of SC/ST women, more than 60% were of girls below 18. Ahmedabad city tops the chart when it comes to the rape of SC/ST children, shows the data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released on Wednesday.
The data reveals that the state in 2020 had reported 116 cases of rape of SC/ST women; of these, 75 victims were children. The total cases increased by nine in 2020 as against 2019 and the increase was recorded only against minor girls.
In Ahmedabad city, there was an overall decline in the cases of rape of SC/ST women. However, of the total cases, about two-thirds involved minors.
In Surat city, six cases of rape of SC/ST women were reported and all the victims were minors.
The NCRB data reveals that of the 19 major cities in the country most cases of rape of SC/ST children were in Ahmedabad city which reported 12 incidents. Ahmedabad was followed by Bengaluru and Lucknow (10 cases each), Hyderabad (7), and Indore and Surat (6).
Jignesh Mevani, a Dalit leader and Vadgam MLA, said: “Child abuse is common in our society and what we have realized, and what studies have proved, is that such abuse comes from within the family.” He added: “There are several research studies on atrocities, but political parties have failed to act. Dalit women and children are more vulnerable than ever not only to rape but also to all kinds of atrocities.”
A senior police official said that the elopement of minor girls is high in the age group of 15 to 18 and in such cases the section of rape is added along with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) provisions. However, this is common across all sections of society, he added.
