Mumbai Local Trains Not Safe For Women, Sex Abuse Cases Surge 87 Per Cent in Two Years

Mumbai, November 14: Despite several measures to provide security to women, cases of sex abuse on local trains in Mumbai went up by 87 per cent in the last two years. As many as 118 cases of molestation were reported on Mumbai trains in the first nine months of this year. There was a steep rise in molestation cases on trains across Maharashtra in 2018. In the first nine months of 2016, 63 molestation cases on local trains were registered in Mumbai. The figure went up to 74 in January-September 2017. This year, the number shot up to 118.

Mumbai commissionerate witnessed more cases of rape and molestation than those in Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad put together in the past two years. In 2016, Maharashtra reported 87 molestation cases on trains in the first nine months. In 2017, 95 molestation cases on trains were registered during the same period in the state. This year, the figure went up to 151. Speaking to TOI, senior police officials pointed out that the detection rate was high in Mumbai, with more than 85 per cent of rape and molestation cases being solved. Dry Day in Mumbai: BMC Proposes 10 Per Cent Cut in Water Supply as Lakes' Levels Dip.

The police said most offenders are first-timers and there are also a substantial number of juveniles involved in such crimes. According to activists, more molestation cases are reported because women are much more vocal about these incidents nowadays. "It is a positive sign that women are speaking out. Complainants don't want the offender to get off any more," Nandita Shah, co-director of NGO, Akshara, was quoted as saying.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 14, 2018 11:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).