Violence against women on rise in Nagaland: top cop

Kohima: The last five years have seen an increase in violence against women in Nagaland’s capital- Kohima, a senior police officer said today.

Cases of violence against women are on the rise with five cases in 2011 to 7 in 2012, 16 in 2013, 24 in 2014 and 23 till October this year, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kohima, Joseph Hesso said.

He was talking speaking at a function for observation of International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women in the state capital here today.

Those are only reported cases of violence against women whereas several cases go unreported. “The silence will only encourage perpetrators and therefore it has to be broken,” he said.

The overall trend of crime against women is increasing and women, he said significantly.

Among the crimes perpetrated against women, rape cases are maximum, he said.

Asserting to provide safety and security to women and children in the state capital, Hesso underscored on the need to create better awareness on the rights of women.

Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, Rovilato Mor, IAS addressing the gathering said, “Violence against women starts from home and therefore its elimination should also start from the home.”

Violence does not always mean physical but it can also be attitudinal and psychological trauma, he said while stressing on effective enforcement of the prevalent law for safety of women against all forms of violence.

The programme jointly organised by North East Network and State Resources Centre for Women on the theme ‘Break the chain; stop the violence’ was also marked by debate for higher secondary students on the topic ‘Nagaland is the safest place for women in India’.