Bhubaneswar: Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Narasingha Mishra on Thursday expressed concern over the spurt in crimes against women in Odisha.
He was referring to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, which has placed Odisha at second after Uttar Pradesh among states to have witnessed the most number of molestation cases.
“Crimes against women in the state have increased. While Odisha is second in molestation and it leads in cybercrime. The report is a shame for Odisha,” he said in the ongoing monsoon session of the State Assembly.
While 20,274 cases of crimes against women were registered in 2018, the number spiralled to 23,183 cases in 2019.
Odisha saw 11,318 women being molested (section 354 of IPC) in 2019. According to NCRB, it included 2818 women, who were assaulted with the intent to disrobe (section 354B of IPC), which is the highest in the country.
Odisha stood eight with 1383 rape cases (victims above 18 years). The state saw 1505 child rape cases in 2019, the seventh-highest in India.