The Fairer Criminals

August 28, 2013

There has been a lot of discussion recently that women are docile and the ‘abla naari’ who need protection from the demons on the streets called men. Having this ideology many gender biased laws were passed in recent times such as Domestic Violence Laws, Dowry Protection Laws, Sexual Harassment at Workplace Law and the recent IrBM.

All these laws were passed with a premise that women are the victims and need protection. The due checks and balances of even prosecution for false complaints were omitted in these laws and we have seen rampant misuse of the same.

We will discuss today if there has been ay structural change in the society over the past 10 years. We have used the NCRB Crime data from 2001 – 2010 for arrests made for serious crimes such as murder, dacoity, burglary, arson, kidnapping, thefts etc… The data for increase in arrests by police over the 10 year period is given below:

Crime Increase in arrest from 2001-2010 Women Male Murder 10.6% -18.4% Attempt to commit Murder 46.4% -17.2% Dacoity 110.3% -29.9% Burglary 40.6% 1.5% Arson 7.1% -22.9% Explosives & Explosive Substances Act 4.2% -19.6% Auto Theft 53.0% 80.7% Other Thefts 45.5% 4.4% Total Theft 45.7% 18.9% Robbery 135.2% 18.5% Kidnapping & Abduction – Women & Girls 66.3% 94.1% Kidnapping & Abduction 56.0% 46.9% Other Indian Penal Code crimes 25.8% 16.1% Gambling Act 39.7% 13.3% Essential Commodities Act 226.8% 82.8% Cheating 159.0% 79.0% Criminal Breach of Trust 62.1% 29.7%

The number of arrests of the fairer criminals (women) has increased by a wide margin for the 10 year period. For crimes such as murder, attempt to commit murder, dacoity, arson and explosive substances the increase of women criminals is positive and in double as well as triple digits whereas we are seeing a decrease in male criminals. 66.3% more women have been involved in the Kidnapping & Abduction of women and girls. The instances of thefts by women have increased by 45.7% and robbery & dacaoity incidents have more than doubled. Cheating incidents have increased by 2.6 times by women whereas the crimes under the Essential Commodities Act have more than tripled (3.26x).

The structural change in the society is such that the serious crimes committed by women have increased by a huge proportion whereas the crimes by men have reduced. Can we still call women as oppressed? Are they still the victims? More women have been involved in the Kidnapping & Abduction especially of other women and girls. Cheating, theft and breach of trust are all crimes where women have contributed (negatively) more to the society.

Why does the media protect the identities of women sex offenders? Why are women commended on acts of vandalism? Many such incidents are regularly seen in the society.

What are the reasons for this structural change in society? Is it gender biased laws of India which protect even criminal women? The time has come now for all of us introspect and stand up for a cause…

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