Himachal Pradesh: Most rape cases in Kangra not genuine, say police

DHARAMSALA: Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh ranks on top in terms of rape and abduction cases among 12 total districts of the hill state. But investigations here have led the cops to a different direction in these cases as the grounds in most of them are not genuine and they are being withdrawn now.
Rape cases registered in state for 2016, 2017 and 2018 are 253, 248 and 345 in numbers.While abduction cases were 290, 341 and 476 for last three years.
Out of 345 cases of rape and 476 of abduction in 2018, police headquarters at Kangra region received maximum 84 cases of abductions and 52 cases of rape.
Superintendent of Police, Santosh Patial told TOI that most of the cases are now being withdrawn due to lack of proper grounds.
“Out of 84 cases of abduction, 40 were minor girls. But now 27 cases are heading for cancellation and procedure for the same is underway” he said.
In 52 cases of rape reported last year in this district, 33 turned out to be consensual, only 19 were the genuine ones, he added.
Patial admitted that many people file these cases out of enmity or having lack of knowledge about the activities of their family members.
“Most of the cases which were not genuine were heading for cancellation and reports for withdrawal of the same were being prepared” he said.
Police records accessed by TOI bring a bad picture on crime increasing in this region of hill state. It reveals that crime is increasing every year.
In 2016, 2017 and 2018 the crime data for the state shows numbers increasing as 17249, 17799 and 19594 for number of cases registered against various crimes.
Though, the crime in state is increasing but police officials lack facilities to control the same. There are many police stations which are in dire need of staff and facilities.
Number of vehicles in the police departments are also less as per to the rate of increasing crime. It is also a well known fact that living conditions of the cops is also in bad shape while many police stations in the state are still running in the buildings which were 100 years old or above.