Mahila police station, Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 27: Mahila police stations in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, which exclusively deal with women-related crimes, have seen an increase in the number of cases registered with them in the last five months.

The number of cases has increased at a rate of more than two and a half in the Mahila police stations during this period. While the average number of cases registered in the last six years in the Bhubaneswar Mahila police station was 203.5, the first five months of this year saw 244 cases being registered here. Similarly, while 71.6 cases were registered in the last six years on an average in Cuttack Mahila police station, the first five months of this year saw 89 cases being registered.

Sources pointed out one reason for the high number of cases being registered to be the state-wide protest against police inaction in the alleged Pipili gangrape case.

Following the protests in the Pipili case, the police are no longer taking the risk of ignoring women complainants. The inspector in charge of Pipili police station was dismissed and the Puri superintendent of police was transferred in the wake of the case of alleged gangrape.

It is said that the rise in registration of cases related to women was noticed after chief minister Naveen Patnaik asked the police in February to accord priority to address cases of atrocities against women.

“Earlier, we used to conduct several counselling sessions involving the complainants and the accused in cases related to domestic violence. The counselling sessions helped in sorting out problems in a number of cases. But now, if they do not agree to sort out their problems after the first phase of counselling, we do not take any risk and register case,” said a senior police officer of the Bhubaneswar Mahila police station.

Sources in the Mahila police station said that the number of cases of domestic violence have topped the list of cases while cases of physical harassment of women have come second. The police said that cases of kidnapping of minor girls have also increased this year.

It is also believed that more women are mustering courage to approach the police with complaints against their tormentors following the outbreak of protests in the alleged Pipili gangrape case.

The increase in the registration of cases has kept the police on their toes as Mahila police stations are facing a staff shortage. At present, the Bhubaneswar Mahila police station has one inspector, eight sub-inspectors and two assistant sub-inspectors to carry out investigation works, while there is one inspector, five sub-inspectors and two assistant sub-inspectors in the Cuttack Mahila police station.