Dawn.com, Washington :Rape is the fastest growing crime in India, but still remains under-reported, according to the a US report on human right violations released on Friday.According to official statistics, there were 33,707 cases of rape nationwide in 2013, the latest year for which data were available. This was an increase of 35.2 Per cent over 2012.Women in conflict areas, such as in India-held Jammu and Kashmir, the north-east, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, as well as vulnerable women, including Dalit or tribal women, were often victims of rape or threats of rape. National crime statistics indicated that, compared with other caste affiliations, rape was most often perpetrated against Dalit women.Although the law prohibits child abuse, it remained common in schools and institutional settings. The government failed to educate the public adequately against child abuse or to enforce the law.The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remained in effect in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and parts of Tripura.
