Bengal second-lowest in convictions for crimes against women, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• West Bengal faces scrutiny over women's safety following a recent alleged gang rape in Durgapur.
• Mamata Banerjee's remarks on the incident sparked controversy and criticism.
• West Bengal consistently reports high numbers of crimes against women, ranking among the top states since 2018.
• The state recorded the highest number of cases of "acid attack" and "attempt to acid attack" between 2021 and 2023.
• West Bengal's conviction rate for crimes against women is among the lowest in the country, averaging around 5% between 2017 and 2023.
• Approximately 3.7 lakh cases of crimes against women were pending trial in West Bengal at the end of 2023.

Detailed Insights:

• The recent incident in Durgapur occurred a year after protests over a doctor's rape and murder in Kolkata, highlighting persistent concerns about women's safety.
• Despite government guidelines issued last year, later withdrawn, the state continues to struggle with ensuring women's safety and accountability for crimes against them.
• Data indicates that West Bengal is among the top five states with the highest number of cases under multiple crime categories related to offences against women between 2018 and 2023.
• The number of acquittals in cases of crimes against women in West Bengal rose sharply to over 19,000 in 2023, the highest among all states.
• The number of pending cases of crimes against women in West Bengal has increased by 56% between 2017 and 2023, reflecting a growing backlog in the justice system.
• The consistently low conviction rates, high acquittal rates, and large backlog of pending cases collectively indicate weak action against crimes against women in West Bengal.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Conviction Rate: The percentage of cases resulting in a guilty verdict compared to the total number of cases tried.
• Pendency of Cases: The number of cases awaiting resolution in the courts.
• Acquittal: A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged.