Panaji, Apr 9 (IANS): Goa has reported an increase in registration of sex crimes against minors due to the nationwide publicity and awareness created by the Nirbhaya case, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Tuesday.

The increase, the chief minister said in a written reply in the state assembly, was "in view of the awareness created by the Nirbhaya case and also due to the direction of the government to compulsorily register cases". Parrikar was responding to a question from independent legislator Rohan Khaunte, who raised concerns over the rise in cases of sexual assault on minors in the state.

"During the year 2013 in the first three months the number of heinous sexual assault cases like rape have declined. However, the cases of other minor sexual assault have shown a slight increasing trend," Parrikar said in his response.

The case of Nirbhaya, a young physiotherapist, who was gangraped in a moving bus and left to die in New Delhi, had caught the imagination of the country. The ghastly incident had triggered nationwide protests which lasted days.

All the accused involved in the case have been arrested by the police.