While altogether 735 cases of crime against women were reported to police in the year 2008, it has increased to 815 last year, said opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath at a press meet here on Saturday.
"The safety of women in the Left ruled state is in jeopardy as rape, molestation and dowry related cases have become a daily affair. The gang rape of minor girl in the SDM Ambassa office on July 16 is a clear indication of the collapsed law and order situation", he said.
In the first quarter of 2010, a total of 346 cases of crime against women were reported to police, he said adding that the dowry death has also gone up from 16 in 2008 to 29 in 2009.
"The crime against women like women trafficking has increased from 289 in 2007 to 470 in 2009 in the state due to inaction on the part of state government", he alleged.
Nath also pointed out that the conviction rate in the state has dwindled from 19 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2008 virtually leaving a free run for the criminals.
He also voiced concern over the poor success rate in settling cases related to crime against women. "Tripura Commission for Women (TCW) has received 3960 cases during the last three years and of which only 803 cases were settled", Mr. Nath pointed out.
"It seems, crime against women has emerged as a major cause of concern for the people of the state. As a responsible opposition party, we can’t remain a mute spectator, the Congress will soon declare its agitational programme to compel the government to arrest perpetrators of crimes against women", he said.
Referring to the gang rape of a minor girl, Mr. Nath expressed surprise saying that such wild act has not happened in the past. "Chief Minister Manik Sarkar is still mute a spectator.
The Congress also demanded reasonable compensation to the rape victims so that they could lead a descent life even after conviction of the guilty", he said.
