Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has called on the BJP government to release a white paper detailing crimes against women in the state.
This demand follows Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent admission that 22-23 cases of rape and other crimes against women have been reported in the past two months.
APCC vice president Bobbeeta Sharma expressed grave concern over the rising crimes against women, terming the situation as a “complete breakdown of law and order.”
Sharma slammed the fact that the Chief Minister had to disclose these cases on social media, interpreting it as an acknowledgment of the government’s failure to protect women.
She demanded a thorough investigation into unreported cases, noting that many incidents remain undocumented.
Sharma questioned the effectiveness of the BJP government’s initiatives to ensure women’s safety, particularly concerning infrastructure.
She pointed to the delay in implementing safety measures, such as street lights, CCTV cameras, and women safety apps.
Despite significant funds allocated for CCTV installation in Guwahati under the Smart City project and the launch of the ‘Boroxa’ women safety app by the President in April 2023, Sharma asked whether these measures are being effectively utilized and if women are even aware of them.
Ratul Kalita, Chairman of the APCC’s Social Media and IT department, said that between 2016 and February 2023, Assam recorded 12,726 rape cases and 170,174 crimes against women.
Kalita pointed out that on average, five rapes were reported daily in the state, with Guwahati alone accounting for 452 cases.
He demanded Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to explain the increasing crime rates despite the BJP’s long-standing governance at both the state and Centre.
Kalita also presented national crime statistics, noting that Assam consistently ranks among the highest for crimes against women.
“In 2021, Assam had the highest rate of such crimes at 168.3 per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 64.5,” he said.