GUWAHATI, Feb 14 � Though the level of violence involving the militant groups is coming down in Assam, the overall level of crimes including crime against women is going up with every passing year.
According to records provided by the Government in the recently concluded session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, the incidents of rape are going up in the State every year. The State recorded 1203 rape cases in 2006 and the figure went up to 1310 in 2007, 1419 in 2008 and 1631 in 2009. The State recorded 1610 rape cases up to the end of November last year.
Similarly, the cases involving dowry are also going up in Assam. The State recorded 2548 dowry cases in 2006 and the figure went up to 3000 in 2007, 3410 in 2008 and 4355 in 2009. Up to the end of November last year, the State recorded 4811 dowry cases.
With the militant groups either lying low or coming over ground to solve their problems through talks, the number of killings in Assam came down a bit, but theft, dacoity and kidnappings recorded upward trend and up to the end of November last year, the State recorded as many as 2934 kidnapping cases.
As per records provided by the Government, during the period from January 2001 to January this year, as many as 110 security personnel were killed in encounters with militants, of which ten belonged to the Army, while, 100 belonged to the Army and paramilitary forces. During the same period, 320 security personnel were injured.
During the period, 628 militants were killed and 47 were injured in encounters with the security personnel. Interestingly, in the same period, 73 common people were killed in police firing.
From 2006 to January this year, 293 persons including 263 common people, five Army personnel and 25 police and paramilitary force personnel were killed in explosions, while, 2556 including 2353 were injured.
