Unsafe at home: Majority of molestation cases occur at residences

NEW DELHI: Even the private space in one's own home has become a vulnerable place, as Delhi Police data shows that most of the 2,752 cases of molestation of women registered this year (till October 15) took place inside the residence.

After homes, roads are the place where women are molested most frequently.

The study conducted by Delhi Police – and accessed by Millennium Post – to find where molestations occur more often showed that around 43.17 per cent of all incidents took place inside the house.

Around 39.50 per cent of molestations took place on roads.

Sexual harassment of women at workplace has been a widespread concern, but the Delhi Police suggests that only 2.94 per cent of cases registered this year occurred inside office.

3.23 per cent of molestation cases took place in outdoor markets or shops, while 11 per cent of the cases occurred elsewhere.

In 2015, as many as 5,367 molestation cases were registered in Delhi, while the number was 4,165 in 2016.

Meanwhile, 530 cases of eve-teasing have been registered till October 15 this year. The number of eve-teasing cases filed in 2015 was 1,492, and in 2016 it 918.

Police sources said that safety of women in the Capital is their top priority, which is reflected in the fact that more than 9,000 people involved in rape and molestation were arrested between January 2016 and August 2017. The data also shows that among these arrests, as many as 3,672 persons were arrested in rape cases, while over 6,000 were arrested on charges of molestation.

One of the most high-profile recent molestation cases involved the security manager of a five-star hotel, who was arrested for allegedly molesting a 33-year-old woman employee and attempting to disrobe her.

According to police, the incident took place on July 29 inside a hotel room equipped with CCTV camera, which recorded the whole incident.

Minors have also been targeted in many cases, as South East Delhi Police recently arrested a man for allegedly molesting a minor in Dakshinpuri. A video of the incident went viral and cops are currently searching for the person who uploaded the video.

Another man was arrested for molesting his four-year-old daughter in South East Delhi. After knowing about the incident, her mother went to the nearby police station and reported the matter.