Rape victims getting younger

Cases of rape of girls under 10 years of age rise from 118 in '08 to 131 last year in state

Rape against minors, particularly girls below 10 years of age, is on the rise. Activists working on the issue of child abuse feel that in 80 per cent of cases, trusted and people in power are the ones responsible for abusing the small girls in their custody.


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They feel that only stringent punishment will reduce these growing instances. The report is published by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) about crime trends in the state. It shows that in 2008, 118 rape cases were reported wherein the victims were below 10 years of age. Last year, the number of such cases went up to 131.

Reporting abuse
Dr Radhika Rawat, member of Muskaan, an initiative of Aalochna working towards creating awareness against child abuse, said, "The growing cases of child sexual abuse reported show that more people are stepping forward to lodge sexual abuse complaints. Faster conviction and stringent punishment will serve as a deterrent in these cases."

"In all these cases, victim needs counselling. But they rarely get it. Even in cases of molestation, it is necessary to make victims understand it was not their fault to help them come out of their trauma," said Rawat. "The offenders in such cases could be of any caste, creed, age and profession, behaving perfectly normally, so that nobody suspects them.

If society tries to judge a person on the basis of his or her regular behaviour, it is difficult for the victim. We need to teach children to express themselves in case of abuse happening to them. Age appropriate sexuality education is hence necessary to make them aware.'

Police feel parents always need to remain cautious while leaving behind their kids with their relatives or neighbours, particularly when they are away. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anant Shinde said, "This is perversion.

Quick conviction and stringent punishment in such cases will result in reducing the instances of sexual abuse
of minor girls."