Odisha records over 40,000 crimes against women in 15 months

Bhubaneswar: A total of 40,947 cases of crimes against women, including 3,205 rapes, were registered in Odisha over a 15-month period ending September, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the state assembly on Monday. The data covers cases reported since July 1, 2024, when the BJP came to power, ending the 24-year rule of the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government.

The opposition has been critical of the Majhi government, alleging a rise in crimes against women since the BJP took charge. According to the CM’s data, the registered cases included 202 attempted rapes, 1,476 cases of sexual harassment, 9,851 molestations, 2,310 instances of public disrobing, 8,863 kidnappings, 796 eve-teasing cases, and 556 stalking cases. Other offences recorded were 129 trafficking cases, 277 dowry homicides, 49 dowry suicides, 5,861 dowry tortures, 6,773 non-dowry tortures, 152 voyeurism cases, and four acid attacks.

Majhi said the government has taken several steps to improve the quality of investigations, fast-track cases, and enhance conviction rates. Investigative Units on Crime Against Women (IUCAW) are functioning across 29 districts to handle important and sensitive cases. The Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW&CW) in Bhubaneswar monitors the monthly performance of IUCAW units, the Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (IAHTU), and Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU), issuing instructions to improve functioning.

To address cyber crimes, a Children and Women Online Abuse Monitoring Unit operates under the CID-Crime Branch, while Child Marriage Prohibition Officers, Protection Officers, and Dowry Prohibition Officers are actively working to ensure the safety and security of women and children in the state.

With PTI inputs