Women unsafe in own homes

KOZHIKODE: How safe are women in their homes in the state? According to police reports, nearly half of the women in the state suffer at the hands of their own relatives and family members.The number of cases relating to various atrocities against women — including molestation and domestic violence — has reached alarming proportions.Out of 10,781 crimes reported against women in 2010, their husbands and relatives are culprits in as many as any 4,788 incidents! The situation was no different in the previous years.While 3,976 women complained of attack from their husbands and relatives in 2009, the number was even higher in 2008 with 4,135 cases. Crimes against women in 2009 and 2008 were respectively 9,354 and 9,706.Malappuram district tops in cruelty by husband/relatives.According to the data compiled by the police department, 652 cases were registered here from January 1 to December 31. This year too the ratio of crimes against women is showing no signs of declining, according to the State Crime Records Bureau.Kollam district follows Malappuram in the number of atrocities against women by husbands/relatives. The least number of domestic violence cases was reported from Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts.In all, 10,781 cases of torture were reported from the state in 2010. Of this, 4,788 cases were registered purely on complaints against the cruelty of husbands and family members towards women.As many as 2,939 cases of molesting and 617 rape charges were registered within this period. Besides, 175 kidnapping cases, 539 eve-teasing incidents and 1,702 other offences were registered from across the state.