Alarming Surge in Rape Cases Making India Unsafe for Foreigners

The frequency of rape incidents have been climbing at alarming rate in India since 2012 making it one of the most vulnerable and dangerous country for its own inhabitants and foreign visitors. The recent horrible gang rape case in Kolkata is a testimony which justifies that India be declared unsafe for women on all platforms.

According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded 4,45,256 cases of crimes against women in 2022, which translates to 51 cases every hour. Keeping this the capital of India was dubbed as rape capital of the world. How it became the epicentre of one of worst crime against humanity?

Nirbhaya Case (2012): The brutal gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in Delhi shocked the nation. The incident led to widespread protests, changes in legislation, and increased awareness about women’s safety.

Unnao Rape Case (2017): A minor girl was allegedly raped by a politician in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district. The case gained attention due to the accused’s political connections and subsequent legal battles.

Hyderabad Vet Rape Case (2019): A young veterinarian was raped and murdered by four men in Hyderabad. The incident sparked outrage and discussions about the need for swift justice.

Kathua Rape Case (2018): An 8-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir was abducted, raped, and murdered. The case highlighted communal tensions and the challenges faced by the victim’s family.

The recent Kolkata Rape and Murder Case (August 9, 2024): A young female doctor, while working a marathon 36-hour shift at the Kolkata R. G. Kar Medical College, took a quick nap in an empty seminar room used by on-duty doctors. Tragically, she was brutally raped and murdered during her rest. The victim’s family decried that it was a gang rape, involving more than one person.

Tens of thousands of people have marched across India, demanding justice for the victim and a radical reshaping of attitudes towards women. This case has garnered significant attention because the victim was a doctor, and hospitals are supposed to be safe places.

However, such crimes are unfortunately not uncommon in India. In 2022, a woman was raped on average every 17 minutes, with many cases going unreported in the media and often resulting in no punishment. The outrage stems from the violation of trust and safety within a public facility where she was serving others.

The incident occurred on March 1, 2024, when the 28-year-old vlogger and her 64-year-old husband were traveling the world on their motorcycles. They were camping in a town near Ranchi, where they found no hotels for an overnight stay. The attackers brutally assaulted the woman, taking turns for about two hours.

India has failed to strengthen its legal framework. Amendments to the Criminal Law in 2013 introduced stricter penalties for sexual offenses. However, implementation and enforcement remain inconsistent, leading to delays in justice.

The victim-blaming and stigmatization often discourage reporting as cultural norms and patriarchal attitudes persist, affecting how society perceives and responds to such crimes.

Hence, the Indian police and other law enforcement agencies failed to address the issue and infect these are found to be complicit in these rape incidents due to political and social influence and pressure.