The Ruling party Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has released disturbing statistics revealing over 204,414 crimes against women during the previous YSRCP government’s five-year rule in Andhra Pradesh. The comprehensive report paints a grim picture of women’s safety across the state under the former administration.

According to the released data, the state recorded 4,034 rape cases during this period, with 22,278 women reported missing. The statistics show 5,660 cyber crimes targeting women and 15,065 documented cases of domestic violence. The report also reveals 60 gang rape incidents, alongside 7,841 crimes against minors. Additionally, 6,604 cases involved attacks on women’s dignity, and 991 women were murdered during this period.

The situation appears particularly severe for women from SC/ST communities. In 2022 alone, 198 rape cases were reported against SC/ST women, while 59 Dalits and tribal people were murdered. The total number of harassment and violence cases against these communities reached 2,893, averaging four rapes per week and five murders per month.

The AP government report highlights significant concerns about law enforcement effectiveness. Many cases allegedly went unregistered, and mandatory bi-annual review meetings under the SC/ST Atrocity Act were largely neglected. In the five-year period, only one review meeting was conducted in 2021. The report indicates that charge sheets faced delays in 38% of cases, and 91% of victims did not receive timely assistance in 2022.

The political dimension of the crisis is evident in the number of cases filed against opposition party workers. The data shows 2,005 TDP workers, 2,014 Jana Sena Party workers, and 69 BJP workers faced allegedly false cases.

-Sanyogita