Mumbai, Mar 8 (TNN): Notwithstanding the tall claims of the law enforcing agencies regarding safety of women, Maharashtra has achieved a dubious distinction of leading in crime against women and minor girls, ranking third after Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

According to the data tabled in the Lok Sabha on March 3, out of the 2.45 lakh cases registered under crime against women and minor girls in 2014, 31,251 cases were registered in Uttar Pradesh, followed by 27,574 in Madhya Pradesh, 25,859 in Maharashtra and 20,756 in Andhra Pradesh.

A senior IPS official said the ministry of home affairs has compiled data on rape, kidnapping, dowry deaths, assault on women, insult to modesty of women, cruelty by husband, importation of girls from foreign country, dowry prohibition act, murder, buying and selling of minor girls for prostitution, commission of Sati and immoral traffic (prohibition) Act for 2014.

It was found that despite enactment of a series of stringent legislations, particularly after the Nirbhaya case and setting up of fast track courts for speedy disposal of cases, there was still a steady spurt in crime against women and minor girls. Maharashtra too has taken a series of measures to halt crime ag8a8inst women and minor girls, but it appears that more critical efforts are needed.

"We have set up special women cells in most police stations. In certain cases of rape, they were entrusted to fast track courts. In fact, in most of the cases, the verdict has come earlier than expected and the accused have been convicted. Despite this, quite a large number of cases of crime against women and minor girls have been registered in Maharashtra," the official said.

A former Mumbai police commissioner said it was high time that the law enforcing agencies adopt a new strategy to tackle the menace. "We will have to draft a new strategy for the safety of women and minor girls. Set up more courts, set up all women police stations and step up vigil all over," he said.

Elaborating on the data compiled by the ministry of home affairs, the IPS officer said after Madhya Pradesh (4,257), the largest number of rape cases were registered in Maharashtra (700); while after Uttar Pradesh (1,029), the largest number of murder cases were registered in Maharashtra (700). Six cases of buying minor girls for prostitution were registered in Maharashtra, followed by one case in Madhya Pradesh, while no case was registered in Uttar Pradesh.

On dowry deaths, the report states that 257 cases were reported in Maharashtra, 689 in Madhya Pradesh and 2,211 in Uttar Pradesh. Highest number of cases (9,927) of assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty were registered in Maharashtra, followed by 9,510 in Madhya Pradesh and 6,728 in Uttar Pradesh.