Bhubaneswar: Despite stringent laws and awareness campaigns, as many as 604 minor rape cases have been reported in Odisha in the first six months of this year, giving an indication of continuing atrocities against women in the State.
In 2018, 1,430 cases of sexual assault against minor girls have been registered in the State.
“Between January and June 2019, 604 minor girl rape cases were registered. At least 1,430 cases of sexual assault against minor girls were reported in 2018 making it an average of four cases each day,” Minister of State (Home) Dibya Shankar Mishra informed the Assembly on Monday.
In a written reply to MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, the Minister said as many as 1,073 rape cases have been disposed off in 2018 while at least 197 persons have been found guilty and rest acquitted,” said Mishra.
The Minister said a total of 2,502 rape cases, including 1,430 cases of sexual assault against minor girls have been reported in 2018.
In the first six months of the current year, a total of 1,149 rape cases, including 604 minor sexual assault cases have been reported.
The Minister said that the State Government on September 24 has issued a notification regarding setting up 24 special courts in Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Khurda, Koraput, Mayubhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Puri, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sundergarh districts to hear cases filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Poscso) Act.
The Minister further informed that steps are being taken to open 21 more special courts to hear such cases.
