Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a significant reduction in rape cases in the state, attributing an 83 per cent decline to the measures implemented by his administration since 2019.
Speaking on Sunday, Sarma revealed that more than 40,000 rape cases have been recorded in Assam since 2001.
However, the number of such incidents has dropped dramatically in recent years.
According to Sarma, the peak of reported rape cases occurred in 2019, with 3,546 incidents recorded.
This figure marked a high point during the first term of the BJP-led government, which began in 2016.
The annual statistics show a sharp decrease since then: 1,657 cases in 2020, 1,733 in 2021, 1,113 in 2022, and 989 in 2023. The trend continues, with 580 cases reported until July 2024.
In comparison, the Congress-led government during 2001-2016 saw a peak in 2014 with 1,980 cases.
The BJP, first under Sarbananda Sonowal and now Sarma, has focused on improving law enforcement and social interventions.
Sarma emphasised the government's commitment to combating sexual violence, stating, “Every single incident of rape has to be condemned in no uncertain terms because it is a huge violation of human dignity. We, as a society, are saddled with the responsibility of wiping out this abominable crime from the face of our motherland.”
Follow us
