Rape Cases On Rise, Conviction Rate Remains Below 17% In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Even as the number of rape cases registered across the state has been rising steadily, the conviction rate has failed to gain major momentum from 2018 to 2020.

This was revealed from the data submitted by Minister of State for Home Natyanand Rai in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. He presented total cases registered and conviction rate of rape under crime against women in states and Union Territories during three years, according to a news agency report.

Giving the details on the number of cases in Odisha, the minister said total 918 cases were registered in the state, while the conviction rate was 13.8% in 2018.

Both figures went up in subsequent 2019 when 1382 rape cases were registered and the conviction rate was 15.9%.

In 2020, there was a marginal drop in the rape incidents as 1211 cases were registered but the conviction rate went up to 16.4%, the minister said.