Chennai: Latest statistics reveal that young girls continue to be victims of inappropriate behaviour and sexual abuse in Tamilnadu.
Data shows that Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act cases top the statistics among grave crime against women and children.
As per figures available with the State Crime Records Bureau, 2,358 Pocso cases were registered in 2019, followed by molestation of women (803), cruelty by husbands and relatives (781), kidnapping and abduction (699) and rape (362).
Cases booked under Pocso, molestation, cruelty by husband and his relatives, kidnapping and abduction together constitute 78.2 per cent and rape accounted for 6.1 per cent of the crime against women.
Meanwhile, crimes against women would soon attract stricter punishment in the State, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced in the Assembly on Wednesday. In concurrence with the Centre, the State plans to make a few amendments to the Crimes against Women section under the IPC.
He said that jail time for dowry deaths would be increased from seven to 10 years; using criminal force to ‘disrobe’ women (354B) would attract five to seven years’ jail-term instead of three; repeated offenses such as stalking (354D) would attract a maximum punishment of seven years instead of five.
Trafficking of minors for sex trade by selling them (Sec 372) or buying them (Sec 373) would attract punishment ranging between seven years and life term.