Bhopal: Over 2400 rape cases were reported in the state in the first six months of the year 2019. Home minister Bala Bachchan in a written reply submitted to MP assembly on the first day of Monsoon Session on Monday, said a total of 2,857 rape cases reported from Jan 1 to June 15, 2018 while in year 2019, the number of rape cases reported in the state was 2,425. The assembly was however adjourned after paying condolence to the departed soul.
It was mentioned in the reply that a total of 39,735 cases of different crimes were registered by the police in the same period last year and this year the number of cases in the corresponding period were 36,035 this year. The response came in reply to a query raised by Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargav on the number of crimes registered in first six months of this year and subsequent action from the police.
Often called the crime capital of Madhya Pradesh, Indore earned the dubious distinction of reporting maximum 466 rape cases in the six month period while Bhopal followed closely with 358 rapes, mentioned the reply. Gwalior and Jabalpur followed closely with 199 and 258 rape cases respectively.
In all, 19,500 cases of atrocities were witnessed in the state till June 15 and out of this, the police submitted the challan in 10,945 cases. In 2,425 rape cases, the police could only submit challan in the court in 1361 cases.
In over 36,000 criminal cases, there were only 77 convictions till June 15, said the reply. “The crime rate has gone down in year 2019 as compared to last year,” said Bachchan in the reply.