Guwahati, July 14: Rape and dowry cases have more than doubled in Assam in the past six years, data compiled by the state home department on crimes against women revealed today.

The most shocking rise was perhaps in the number of dowry cases — from 1,307 cases in 2001 to 3,063 in 2007. Till May this year, the number of registered cases was 990.

Rape cases have nearly doubled as well, from 785 in 2001 to 1311 in 2007. Till May, the figure was 505.

Compared to the 2006 All-India National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report figure of 19,348 registered rape cases, 7,618 dowry deaths and 36,617 molestation cases, the trend in Assam is clearly worrying.

Though the figures scream for attention, police and politicians are seeking to understand the deeper socio-cultural implications of the data.

The government put down the figures to a growing awareness among women, who now can pluck up the courage to file cases against their tormentors.

“It is not that such cases were not taking place earlier, but under our government, more and more people are coming forward to register them,” minister Rockybul Hussain said.

A police officer even termed rape, molestation, dowry demands as “North Indian malaise”, which were slowly making inroads into Assam.

“Increased movement of people from all over the country to Assam and from here to outside may have caused this,” the officer said.

AGP legislator Alaka Sharma agreed that the figures reflected a “very bad social scenario” and wondered why cases of harassment against women at the workplace and torture of students outside Assam did not figure in the data.

“We often come across news of wife-beating and maid-bashing. There are also reported cases of harassment at the workplace. We (women legislators) had complained about torture of female students outside Assam in the Assembly and the government had assured us of certain steps. The figures indicate that the government needs be more active in checking crime against women,” Sarma said.