Sambalpur: Violence Against Women; 1,677 Cases in 2 Years, Dowry Claims 5 Lives, Misconduct Most Common

Sambalpur: In the past two years, 1,677 cases of violence against women have been reported in Sambalpur district. 1,593 charge sheets have been filed, and investigations in 84 cases are still ongoing. Rape, child abduction, domestic violence, and human trafficking involving women remain serious issues in the district. However, the most common cases involve misconduct, and the charge sheet filing process is often delayed.

Over the last two years, 44 cases of misconduct, 16 cases of minor abductions, 17 cases of domestic violence, and 6 cases of trafficking to other states have been investigated. Furthermore, five cases of dowry-related deaths have been reported.

According to Crime DSP Pradeep Das, police circulars require charge sheets in cases of violence against women to be filed within 60 days. Police also begin the process of arresting the accused as soon as possible.

Viral Video of Torture, Yet No Arrest

Last month, a video of some young people brutally torturing a young woman went viral. To date, the police have not arrested or identified the accused.

In another case, two young women, ages 18 and 19, from Burda village in Jujumura block, went missing after traveling to Jagatsinghpur for work. The Jujumura police did not file a report, claiming that the woman left of her own volition. However, after the father of one of the girls went to Jagatsinghpur and filed a complaint, a case was eventually filed. Even after a month, the location of the missing woman is unknown.

Murder and Misconduct Cases Rise

In recent months, incidents such as the murder of a young woman in Naksideul and the death of an elderly woman in Redhakhol have come to light. Misconduct, denial of rightful benefits, and various forms of violence against women have all been reported. In Naksideul, a young man under the influence of alcohol confessed to murdering his neighbor. In Redhakhol, an elderly woman was killed in broad daylight.

Despite increased police vigilance during the election period, the police rescued five minor girls who had been illegally trafficked to Tamil Nadu.

Violence Affects Both the Educated and Marginalized

Violence against women does not only affect economically and socially marginalized groups. It has also had an impact on the more educated members of society. For example, major educational institutions in Sambalpur have received complaints about misconduct against women.

Delayed Investigations and Limited Resources

Following the infamous Nirbhaya case in Delhi in 2012, the central government ordered all districts to establish independent units to investigate violence against women. These units include Additional SPs, DSPs, Inspectors, and Sub-Inspectors. Despite this, due to a lack of police personnel, these units are not limited to cases involving women’s violence. As a result, they handle all types of investigations.

Furthermore, some police stations are allegedly involved in misconduct cases. For example, in the case of the missing Jagatsinghpur woman, the police initially declined to file an FIR and deported the complainant. Even a month later, the family from a poor tribal community continues to seek assistance from district and police authorities, but no one is listening.