This story is from January 17, 2022

In lockdown years, rape cases more than halved in Noida

The number of rape cases registered in the city have more than halved in the two lockdown years of 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. According to data sourced from police, while 96 rape cases were reported in 2019, there were 42 complaints 2020 and 41 the next year.
In lockdown years, rape cases more than halved in Noida
Picture for representational purpose only.
NOIDA: The number of rape cases registered in the city have more than halved in the two lockdown years of 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. According to data sourced from police, while 96 rape cases were reported in 2019, there were 42 complaints 2020 and 41 the next year.
Social activists, however, dubbed the dip “nothing unusual”, considering most people stayed indoors during the lockdown months of 2020 and 2021.

“Our teams are working rigorously in tackling crime against women. It is very important to raise awareness among them,” said deputy commissioner of police (women and child safety) Vrinda Shukla.
The officer said one of the biggest challenges was to make women aware about what could be construed as crime against them and gain their trust so that they come out and report the cases. Special women helpdesks have been set up in every police station because of this.
“The dedicated helpdesk works towards women issues so that the cases are solved at the earliest and chargesheets are filed within a month,” Shukla said.
“We have introduced the women’s beat system, under which rural areas have been divided into 127 beats. Every week, beat officers from respective police stations meet women in the villages and make them aware about the crimes that can happen against them and encourage them to raise their voice,” Shukla said.

Yogita Bhayana, the founder of People Against Rapes in India (PARI), said the dip was expected during the lockdown. “The main reason behind the dip in cases is the lockdown, when everybody was confined to homes. The number would have been higher had domestic rapes been reported too. In such cases, the accused are mostly known to the woman. The fear of social stigma often makes women keep the crimes to themselves,” she added.
Yogita said the police had a long way to go to making the city safer for women. “Before taking credit for the numbers going down, the police have a lot to do on the ground. Connectivity still remains a major issue at night and there are a lot of dark stretches in the city, especially towards Noida Extension. Not to forget the harassment one goes through to get a complaint registered,” she added.
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