Meghalaya: Cases of crime against women continue to rise, 690 cases recorded in 2022

The menace of crimes against women and children continue to plague the state of Meghalaya. In 2022 alone the state recorded a staggering 690 cases of crimes against women, while 496 cases were against children.
In 2018 there were 287 cases of crime against women which increased to 293 in 2019. In 2020,the number of cases more than doubled to 606, while the number further ascended to 685 in 2021.
Expressing serious concern over the rising instances of such crimes, Meghalaya Assembly Women panel Chairperson Santa Mary Shylla stated that no women or children should be subjected to suffering in the state. She also expressed concern about the number of pending cases related to sexual crimes against women and children. The Meghalaya Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment visited various districts to take stock of the situation, however they were dissatisfied with the speed at which reform measures are taking place. The committee urged the police to ensure that POCSO cases are not kept pending and investigations to be fast-tracked.
Meghalaya has recorded 58% of cases involving sexual offences. This revelation came recently at the launch of the ‘NEYI CHETNA 2.0,’ a National Gender Campaign at the state level organised by the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS). The period from 2007 to 2022 saw the highest crimes under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO), 2012.
The police website shows that there were 75 cases of rape and 20 cases of attempt to commit rape in just one year. As many as 63 cases were reported as assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty.