“Crime against female” in common sense means and indicates any untoward behaviour towards a female by another person. It includes saying words with a sexual sense, touching any body part, kissing, proposing physical contact, performing sexual acts forcefully, etc.

The semantic meaning of “crime against women” is direct or indirect physical or mental cruelty to women. Crimes that are “directed specifically against women” and in which “only women are victims” are characterized as “crimes against women.” (Ibid, p.2).

Violence is also known as abuse. In broad terms, it includes threats, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, controlling or domineering, intimidation, stalking, passive/covert abuse and economic deprivation, rape, abduction, kidnapping, murder, etc. (Ibid, 2012, pp.2-3 )

The incidence of crime against women is not new. Since long past the females were harassed by some designated wicked persons, even remaining in the highest social status. Some such examples from Indian mythological stories are cited here –

1. As described in Ramayana King Ravana kidnaps Sita and proposed to her to get married to him.
2. In Mahabharata Duhshasana, by the instruction of Duryyodhana, brought Draupadi to the houseful parliament by pulling her holding the hair, and tried to make her nacked. Duryyodhana invited her to sit on his thigh and Karna designated her as a prostitute.
3. Kishaka, the Commander in Chief of the king of Birata proposed Draupadi to be his wife and tried to involve her in physical contact forcefully.
4. Lord Indra did a sexual act with Ahalya in disguise as her husband.

All these misdeeds ended with destructive sequences like –

1. The strongest and most famous king Ravana loses his life, kingdom,  and family.
2. The famous and destructive war of Kurukshetra took place and Kaurava was destroyed totally.
3. )Kishaka lost his life at the hand of Bhim.
4. Lord Indra had to suffer from a curse to be “SAHASRAYONI” (Having 1000 No. of female genital organs on his body ).

In the later period, thousands of crimes against females occurred, some of which are recorded and investigated by the police and some remain unreported.

Some recent examples of heinous crimes against females in India are cited here –

1. 1999, Jessica Lal murder case.
2. 2005, Laxmi Agarwal acid attack case.
3. 2012, Delhi gang rape and murder case (Nirbhaya case).
4. 2014, gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in Katra village of Badaun district, Uttar Pradesh.
5. January 2018, abduction, gang rape, and murder of an 8-year-old girl in Rasana village near Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.
6. November 2019, gangrape and murder of a 26-year-old veterinary doctor in Shamshabad, near Hyderabad.
7. September 14, 2020, gangrape of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh.
8. May 18, 2022, the murder of Shraddha Walkar in Delhi.

All these cases are very dangerous and pathetic. The brutality of the assailants probably crossed all the boundaries. These cases caused nationwide chaos and investigations were made by the authorities. Some of the assailants alleged to have involvement in these cases skipped from allegation and some suffered rigorous punishment.

After the NIRBHAYA incident, the Indian trial system for crimes against females was specially reviewed and very strict and exemplary punishment was granted in the law.

But even with the introduction of serious steps, the incidence of this type of crime is not reduced. The following data reflects the nonreduction of these crimes which is undoubtedly a matter of serious concern -

STATEWIDE INCIDENCE OF CRIME AGAINST WOMEN FROM 2017- 2020 IN INDIA

DATA SOURCE – Population Source Report of Technical Group on Population Projections (November 2019 and July 2020) National Commission on Population, MoHFW)

TABLE:

The above table reflects that, though in some states there is a decrease in incidents, it is also not satisfactory to consider that, the crime against females is reduced.

Hence some efforts in this aspect can be considered necessary. Some suggestions are –

1. Education from the childhood level to respect females (Indian culture teaches to behave every female who is not a legal wife as a mother/sister. The traditional cultures of praying to the Goddess Durg, Laxm, Saraswat, etc. are also nothing but examples of respect for females.
2. Sex education for both male and female children under the social culture and the law of the land in force.
3. Education on the restrictions of physical contact and observation of the guardians of their children.
4. Imposition of restriction in free circulation and access to the stories/movies etc. showing the sexual acts.
5. Avoidance of display of female photographs in sexually attractive appearance etc.

To conclude it can be said that, proper education on sexual behavior for the growing population can help prevent crime against women.

LET ALL BE UNITED TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS DREADFUL SOCIAL AILMENT.

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