Assam registers 121 rape cases in the last two months, alarming rise of violence against women reported: Sarma

Northeast Diary
Guwahati

Assam has recorded 121 rape cases in the first two months of 2025, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the state Assembly on Monday. The data was presented in response to a query from West Guwahati MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita, highlighting ongoing concerns about crimes against women in the state.

According to official figures, Assam reported 1,019 rape cases in 2024, 989 in 2023, and 1,113 in 2022. The numbers were even higher in 2021 and 2020, with 1,733 and 1,657 cases, respectively.

The Chief Minister also shared data on other crimes in Assam from January 1 to February 24, 2025 which includes 1,022 cases of robbery, 102 cases of murder, 386 cases of kidnapping and 43 cases of loot. In Guwahati alone, four murder cases were registered.

The latest incident was reported on Saturday when a 20-year-old woman lodged an FIR at Paltan Bazar police station, alleging sexual assault by two men. The accused, Chandan Mahant and Rohan Ali, were arrested late Sunday night.

The Chief Minister has repeatedly emphasized the need for a collective effort to combat crimes against women. He urged the judiciary to expedite justice through fast-track courts, leveraging provisions under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to ensure swift legal proceedings.

“The judiciary must not hesitate to set up fast-track courts whenever crimes against women are reported,” Sarma said, calling for stricter measures and minimal adjournments to prevent delays in delivering justice. With crime rates remaining high, concerns persist over the effectiveness of law enforcement and judicial intervention in curbing such offenses.