New Delhi, July 2 : A worrying trend of recent rape cases in the national capital reveal a pattern of the crime showing the accused persons are either neighbours or known to the victims.

“The Delhi Police, while investigating various rape cases, have found a disconcerting pattern where the perpetrators had close proximity to the victims. This proximity includes being neighbours or acquaintances, leading to increased vulnerability and potential exploitation of trust,” said a senior police official.  “The cases of rape by close relatives or acquaintances are a matter of great concern. According to a report by the Delhi Police, over 44 percent of the cases registered with the police in the year 2019-20 involved victims who identified their rapists as either relatives or members of their family. The biggest factors contributing to the increase in rape cases are lack of education and matrimonial or family disputes. It is also about the erosion of our social and family values,” said Vineet Jindal, a lawyer at the Supreme Court. 

“To effectively control rape cases, the government must implement a time-bound manner of investigation and trial, which can provide a strong response to the accused in rape cases,” said Jindal.