West Bengal top Indian state in domestic violence against women: Report

West Bengal has topped the list of Indian states with most number of domestic violence incidents, according to National Crime Records Bureau or NCRB's initial report for the year 2016.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 8 August 2017, 05:13 PM
Updated : 8 August 2017, 05:13 PM

The report says, among the 29 states, West Bengal that borders Bangladesh and Uttar Pradesh ranked first and second, respectively.

The Times of India quoting the report said, “Over 34,205 cases of crime against women have been reported during 2016, 59% or 20,265 of which were cases of domestic violence."

"West Bengal, in 2016, saw a total of 21,619 people being arrested or being involved in domestic violence. The cases were mostly of wife beating, the demand of dowry, instigation to commit suicide," the report said.

Experts, however, claim that "awareness-building initiative has encouraged women to report violence against them".

"Awareness about domestic violence has encouraged many women to come out of the shell and report incidents. We are trying to make more and more aware of their rights,” State Women Commission’s Leena Gangopadhyay was quoted as saying.

She also said the commission was planning to publish books on the subject and take help of other mediums to educate women about domestic violence and their rights, according to the newspaper.

Another women rights activist Khadija Banu told the Times of India or TOI “the situation is more grave in lower middle-class families.”