Paravoor: At a time when the safety of the woman and children is one of the most-discussed topics across the country, the small-hamlet of Paravoor and nearby areas have earned the dubious distinction as the most unsafe place for women and children in the district.
According to police records, for the last several years, the highest number of rape cases reported was from Paravoor.
In North Paravoor Police Station limits, there were as many as seven rape cases in 2012. And, the majority of the victims were minors. Among them, the victims of five cases were between 16-18 years. Police officials attached to the North Paravoor station says that after North Paravoor, the highest number of sexual offences was reported at Kothamangalam and Njarackkal.
In Njarackkal police station, two rape cases were reported in which the victims were 16-years old. Nine cases were reported for outraging the modesty of the women and two cases of unnatural offences, involving sexual abuse, of the boys.
There are around 40 police stations in Ernakulam Rural Police limit and about 41 rape cases were reported in these police stations from January to September 2012. Among them, cases from North Paravoor, Njarrackkal and Kothamangalam constitute more than 50 per cent.
However, according to the police officials at Paravoor, in many cases though the acts are committed with the cooperation of the victims, they later turn hostile and approach police after being blackmailed or trapped.
“They are least bothered about the role they play in the crime till they get into trouble,” a police official said. According to the police, mobile phones have an important part to play in most cases. Limiting the usage of mobile phones and creating awareness among the students will help reduce such cases.
K A Abdul Salam, circle-inspector, North Paravoor, said they have become more attentive and prompt in providing security to woman and children in the Paravoor area.
“We have tightened the security. A strong police patrolling team, including women police, are assigned the task of ensuring safety for women,” said Abdul Salam. It was in 2011 that North Paravoor came into limelight when a minor girl was forced to sex trade by her father. Similarly, in 2012 another rape case was reported from here in which a girl was abused by her boy friend and later blackmailed.
In December 2012, another sex scam from Paravoor came to light in which the father and mother of the girl allegedly sold her to many people. These cases are still under the police investigation.