Rape incidents are on the rise in Ganjam district. Last year, 79 rape cases were registered in the district including 19 in Berhampur. The figure was 63 in the previous year and 59 in 2010. In 2009, the number of rape cases in the district stood at 52.
Ganjam SP Asish Singh said of the total number of rape cases registered in the district last year, 35 were charge-sheeted while the other cases are under investigation.
Moreover, the district registered the highest number of molestation cases in the State at 358 cases followed by 299 in Angul, 227 in Mayurbhanj and 217 in Balasore district last year.
Berhampur-based social activist Pramila Tripathy said these figures are just tip of the iceberg as many more cases go unreported. “Apprehending social stigma, many victims do not lodge complaints and in some cases, police do not register the complaints,” she said.
Berhampur SP Prateek Mohanty, however, refuted the allegation. “If a victim is not prepared to register a case, we cannot force her to do so,” he said.