Bengal in hall of shame, again- Crimes against women: State contests NCRB

TNN | Jun 13, 2013, KOLKATA: Even as the state battles the stigma of the Barasat and Gede rapemurders , here's more grim news from the National Crime Records Bureau. 
Bengal has again topped the country in crimes against women, accounting for 12.67% of such cases across India. 
The state also recorded the third highest number of rapes (escaping the second slot by a whisker) while Kolkata registered the highest number of assaults on the 'modesty' of women in all metros. 
Disturbingly, while cases of harassment of women went down 14% nationally, they shot up by 68% in Bengal. Also, molestation cases went up by 52% in Bengal, more than twice the average national rise of 24%. 
Even states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh recorded far fewer crimes against women. The shocking revelation triggered protests and condemnation from rights groups but the state government quibbled over the numbers. 
Director general of police Naparajit Mukherjee came out with a different set of figures, claiming that rapes had dropped significantly from 2,317 in 2011 to 1,978 in 2012. The NCRB records 2,046 cases. "We sent NCRB a few disclaimers but they refuse to publish them. So there has been some room for misconception," argued the DGP. 
Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra tore into the government: "At one point of time the government stopped sending data to NCRB as the figures were taking the state to the top slot. 
The chief minister asked her officers to get the data vetted by her before sending them to Delhi. Then, she instructed them to send reports with disclaimers. 
This is quite strange." Bengal tops the chart in abduction of women as well, pipping UP and Bihar as the kidnap capital of the country. Bengal recorded 4,168 kidnap cases followed by Bihar (3,789) and Assam (3,360). It seems women are unsafe even at home. In more shocking revelations, Bengal, which was always seen as progressive, tops in cases of torture by husbands, too. 
The state recorded 19,856 such cases in 2012, well higher than Andhra Pradesh (13,389) and Rajasthan (13,312). This has gone up from 19,772 cases in 2011. The highest crime rate of 18.65% was reported from Bengal, a staggering figure compared with the national rate of 8.2%. Bengal accounted for 12.67% of all crimes against women while its population share is 7.5%. 
As many as 30,942 cases were reported in 2012, compared with 29,133 in 2011. Andhra Pradesh comes second with 28,171 cases. In rapes, Bengal stands third in the country although the number of cases dropped from 2,363 in 2011 to 2,046 in 2012. The DGP highlighted this is as some sort of an achievement and also remarked that Bengal's position in dowry deaths (593 cases) is far better than other states like Uttar Pradesh (2,244) or Bihar (1,275). 
Among metros, Kolkata (2,073) stands third after Delhi (5,194) and Bangalore (2,263) in crime against women. The NCRB data has handed ammo to the Left Front ahead of the panchayat polls. 
Although it's a fact that Bengal has been topping the chart in crime against women since 2004, the records show an unmistakable spike in 2008-10, lending some credence to the Left charge that crime is spiraling in the Trinamool-led regime. 

SNS & PTI, KOLKATA, 12 JUNE: The West Bengal government today contested the statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau, saying that it did not publish the state's disclaimer that rapes and grave crimes have declined.

Director General of Police (DGP) Mr Naparajit Mukherjee, who attended the press conference, said that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), did not publish the state's disclaimer that rapes and grave crimes have declined. "We have written to the NCRB to publish our disclaimer to remove misconception
about the crime scenario but they are adamant and declined to publish it," he said.

The NCRB has reported 30,942 incidents of crime against women in the state in 2012 as against 29,133 in 2011 but Mr Mukherjee claimed that the situation was comparatively much better in Bengal compared to other states. "Cruelty against women (498 A) is high but regarding the other cases like dowry death (304B) it is 593 that is much more lower than other states, including UP. "The rate of heinous crimes, including
rape, have declined to 1,978 in 2012 from 2,317 in 2012 so, we have urged the NCRB to publish our disclaimer," he said. He said that the state government is very serious to curb crimes against women and quick action was taken in the past six months.

"Life sentences were awarded in cases of rape and serious crimes in Malda, North Dinajpur and Haldia. This shows our commitment to bring down the crime rate and atrocities against women in West Bengal in the past six months, " he said

His statement came five days after the gangrape of a
teenager at Barasat in North 24-Parganas, which sparked off a public protest. He also said the accused Shibu Yadav in TV journalists attack case will be arrested soon.

“Rape incidents have come down considerably as also heinous crimes in West Bengal. But the NCRB refused to publish our disclaimer despite our communication,” Mr Mukherjee said. Stating that a proposal to set up a new police station in Barasat was under consideration, the DGP said that police had already taken steps in the gangrape case.In an apparent reference to the Barasat gangrape and assault of TV reporters, Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra said that 'stray incidents' had been reported in the state in the past two to three days with police taking action. “We will give a charge-sheet and plead in the court for awarding maximum possible punishment,” the chief secretary said. “The state government has zero tolerance on crime,” he added.