30 rape cases reported in '08

30 rape cases reported in '08

PANAJI: There were more rape cases reported in 2008 than the previous years. In 2008, there were 30 rape cases reported as compared to 20 cases
in 2007 and 21 in 2006. Data reveals that more minors were raped as compared to majors in the state.

Statistics available with the police department show that in 2005 there were 20 cases of rape, of which 15 victims were minors while five were majors. In 2006, there were 21 cases of rape, of which 14 were minors and seven majors.

The situation was not very different in 2007 when 20 cases of rape were registered. Of these, 15 were minor victims while five were major. The number of rape cases rose to 30 in 2008, with 18 minor and 12 major victims.

Even though the rate of detection has improved, the conviction rate remains low. In 2004, about 48 persons were accused of rape. While in 2005, 33 were accused of rape, in 2006, 19 were arrested. In 2007, 24 were arrested for rape and the number increased to 39 in 2008.

In 2004, six accused were convicted in a rape case, while in 2005, only one person was convicted. The trend continued in 2006 with one person being convicted for rape. In 2007, two persons were convicted for rape. In 2008, there was not a single conviction of rape, the records revealed.


13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition