Maharashtra slips to second in crimes against women amid lack of deterrence: Shiv Sena (UBT)

The Shiv Sena UBT on Friday criticised the Maharashtra government over what it described as a deterioration in law and order particularly the reported rise in serious crimes against women and children across the stateIn an editorial published in the partys mouthpiece Saamana the Uddhav Thackerayled faction claimed that Maharashtra which it said was once considered relatively safe for women had now slipped to second place nationally in crimes against womenThe editorial questioned whether the states law enforcement system was providing sufficient deterrence to prevent serious crimes particularly sexual offences involving minorsPune incidents raise questions over womens safetyThe editorial focused on a series of incidents reported in Pune district which it described as a major educational and cultural centre of MaharashtraIt referred to the recent case in Pimpalwandi village in Junnar taluka alleging that a 25yearold man lured a nineyearold girl from her home on the pretext of teaching her to ride a bicycleJust as the state was recovering from a tragic sexual assault and murder in Nasrapur Bhor taluka a nearidentical horror unfolded in Pimpalwandi village Junnar taluka A 25yearold suspect lured a 9yearold girl away from her house on the pretext of teaching her how to ride a bicycle He took her to a nearby sugarcane field sexually assaulted her beat her severely and strangled her to death said the editorialAccording to the editorial the accused allegedly concealed the girls body and later joined police and local residents in the search for her attempting to avoid suspicionThe editorial said CCTV footage subsequently showed the accused with the girl on a bicycle He was later arrested and allegedly confessed to the crime following which he led police to the location where the body had been concealedEditorial questions whether arrests provide deterrenceThe editorial noted that Pune district police officials had promised to file a charge sheet within 15 days and seek a trial in a fasttrack courtHowever the Shiv Sena UBT questioned whether such assurances could prevent similar crimesIt also referred to the Nasrapur case in which a 65yearold accused reportedly received a death sentence within 58 days and questioned why such a punishment had not prevented another similar crimeThe editorial argued that swift arrests and legal proceedings were necessary but said they did not by themselves address the question of deterrenceParty highlights other crimes involving minorsThe editorial cited several other cases reported recently in different parts of MaharashtraIn Hingoli districts Hatta area of Vasmat taluka it said a girl with a disability was allegedly lured into a sugarcane field with biscuits and sexually assaulted by four people on August 13 The incident reportedly came to light after her parents noticed changes in her behaviour Three of the four accused have been arrested according to the editorialThe party also referred to a case in Nalasopara in which two youths were accused of sexually assaulting a 14yearold girl and circulating footage of the alleged assault on social mediaIt further cited an alleged sexual assault involving six accused against a 14yearold girl in Bhayandar and the arrest of a 65yearold man in Wakad Pune for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10yearold childShiv Sena UBT questions governments responseThe Uddhav Thackerayled party said police action and court proceedings generally follow after a crime has occurred but questioned whether the state administration was doing enough to prevent such offencesThe editorial alleged that criminal elements had become emboldened because of perceived political protection a claim that has not been independently establishedOver 23000 cases of violence and murder involving young boys and girls have been registered in the state in recent years Maharashtra now ranks second in India for overall crimes against women The Chief Minister who holds the Home portfolio himself admitted in the state legislature that Maharashtra ranks 8th nationally in total crime statistics a confession the editorial called shameful remarked the Thackeray campOpposition targets Chief Minister over law and orderThe editorial placed responsibility for the states law and order situation on the ruling administration and questioned the governments response to the recent casesIt criticised the Chief Minister and the Home Department for what it described as a lack of effective action despite public concern over crimes against women and childrenThe Shiv Sena UBT called for stronger measures to prevent such offences and argued that the government must focus not only on investigating crimes after they occur but also on creating an effective deterrent against potential offenders