Silchar, April 22: Gone are the days when Silchar, the second largest urban centre in Assam in terms of its 15 square km area and a population of nearly 2 lakh, was considered to be a safe and very peaceful town.

Over the years, the town has lost its peace and the number of crimes against women is on the rise here.

According to data provided by the Silchar Sadar police station to The Telegraph, as many as 85 cases of rape and 897 cases of domestic violence have been registered with police here in a span of just three years and three months, underscoring the fact that this town is no longer safe for women.

Seventeen rape cases were lodged with Sadar police station in 2012, 32 in 2013, 33 in 2014 and 3 till March this year. Of 897 cases of domestic violence, 268 complaints were registered in 2012, 266 in 2013, 296 in 2014 and 67 till March 2015.

According to the reports of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released last year, Assam tops the list of crimes against women in the Northeast with 17,449 cases in 2013 as against 13,544 the previous year.

In reply to a question of AIUDF MLA Gul Akthara Begum, the panchayat and rural development minister, Rakibul Hussain, had told the Assembly that 15,931 women have been raped in the state from 2005 to 2014. He said 68,329 women were tortured while 1,400 killed for dowry during that period.

The appalling figures on rate of crime against women are really a matter of deep concern.

The officer-in-charge of Sadar police station, Prafulla Borghoain, claimed that Silchar was much safer than many other towns of the state. "Of course, the data shows a very appalling picture and we always try our level best to ensure safety and security of women," he told The Telegraph.

On the increasing number of cases of domestic violence, Borghoain said they cannot take any action against a perpetrator of crime unless a complaint is lodged. "It is very difficult for police to check incidents of domestic violence, if people in the neighbourhood do not come forward and raise voice against the crime," he added.

Madhumita Dhar Sarkar, specialised in gender justice and head of the law department of Assam University, said men and women need to change their mindsets to check crimes against women.

Expressing concern over growing rate of crimes in the region, she said many incidents are not being reported because of social stigma associated with it especially in Barak valley which has not yet achieved the progressive outlook.

"There are many provisions of law to tackle the crimes, but a law cannot check crime on its own if people are not aware," she added.