Police registered 66 cases of rape in 2007, while there were 70 rape victims in that year. Fifty-one rape cases and 56 rape victims were registered in 2008, which increased to 68 rape cases and 71 victims.
This year the police have registered 76 rape cases and the names of 69 victims, the police official said.
He was speaking at an observation of a 'black day' by the states apex women’s body Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl here to show its strong condemnation of the recent rape and murder of two five-year-old girls in Aizawl and a spurt in violence against women.
Explaining the difference between the number of rape cases and victims, Mr Khiangte said in some cases the same accused victimized more than one person while in some cases, a victim got raped by more than one persons.
The police official believed that it was possible that more cases of rape went unreported due to the parents and the victims fear of stigmatization.
Most of the rape victims were aged between 10 and 15, the police official said, constituting 30.2 per cent of the victims.
This was followed by 15-20 age group who accounted for 18.3 per cent. He said girls aged between 5 and 20 are the most vulnerable to rape.
The police official further revealed that in most cases, the accused and the victims were near or dear ones.
Stating that there is high incidence of child sexual abuse, the Aizawl SP stressed the importance of imparting sex education to children.
~ Sinlung
