International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science (IJIRMS)
Volume 03 Issue 07 July 2018, ISSN: 2455-8737, Imp. Factor - 4.102
Available online at - www.ijirms.in
2114
Indexcopernicus value - 64.48 © 2018 Published by IJIRMS Publication
A Statistical Analysis of Alleged Sexual Assaults - Its
Attributes and Aftermaths
Dr. S. Haflongbar
1
, Dr. B. Paul
*2
, Dr. A. J. Patowary
3
1
PGT,
2
Demonstrator,
3
Associate Professor,
Department of Forensic Medicine, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati
*Corresponding author -
Dr. Biswadeep Paul
Demonstrator, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati-32
E-mail: drbiswadeeppaul @ gmail.com
Abstract
Sex related offences against females are universal phenomena and constitute the most shocking reprehensible crime against
conscience and morality and attack on human dignity and subjugation of the fairer sex. Psychiatric disturbances, venereal
diseases, attempted suicides, unwanted pregnancies; lust murder and interpersonal violence constitute far flung consequences of
sexual offences including sexual assault and violence. Inspite of stringent laws including POCSO, Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act and Criminal Law Amendment Act, sex crimes, rape and child abuse
are on the rise. To analyse the antecedents and aftermaths, a statistical study was carried out on 93 female victims of alleged
sexual offences who had consented for medical examination and study, on being brought to the Department. of Forensic
Medicine, GMCH. Our study revealed that most of the victims were between 15 to18 years of age group with 30.11% of cases,
58.06% cases were Hindus, from urban areas with 52.69% cases, 48.39% were students, from lower socio-economic background
with 73.12% cases and 79.57% were unmarried. Most of the sexual assaults occurred in the Month of September and 36.56% of
the offenders were neighbours. A total of 60.22% cases had hymenal tears and 5.38% cases showed presence of spermatozoa in
microscopic examination of vaginal, oral and anal smears. Comprehensive analysis of precipitating factors and evaluation of
social, economic and psychological factors along with suggestion and remedial measures is the need of the hour for the benefit of
the society in general and individuals in particular.
Keywords: Sexual offence, Sexual assault, Rape, Preventive and remedial interventions.
Introduction
Sex related offences are universal phenomena, which are
taking place in every society. In common parlance, sexual
offence constitutes the most shocking crime against
conscience and morality. The legal definition and
interpretation of the sexual offences is under constant
change with changing times under the advice of sociologists
and medico-scientists. According to American juriest,
Ploscow Rape is a word of fearsome connotations. The term
‘rape’ brings out all the hostile, aggressive and protective
instinct of the human male. The rapist is an object of
universal detestation (Varma 1979).
[13]
In 2002 the WHO defines sexual violence as: any sexual act,
attempt to obtain an act, unwanted sexual comments or
advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed against a
person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless
of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including
but not limited to home and work.
[1]
The incidence of sexual
violence against women is increasing worldwide and the
global statistics are shocking. Worldwide about 20% of
women have been sexually abused in their childhood.
[2]
A
high rate of sexual assault is found in other Asian countries
as well. In Japan 60% of women suffer sexual violence
while 25% of women in India and 53-62% of women in
Bangladesh and 19% in North Carolina, United States are
victimized at times.
[3]
Though crime is prevalent in every country and society,
most of them either goes undetected or unreported. As• per
National Crime Records Bureau-(NCRB), New Delhi, a
crime takes place every 17 seconds, among them one dowry
death every 77 minutes, one crime against women every.3
minutes and finally one rape or sexual assault every 27
minutes. With above crime scenario, Forensic Medicine
Open Access Journal Research Article DOI: 10.23958/ijirms/vol03-i07/05