DHAKA: Police has registered 300 FIRs of rape in the first two months of this year in Delhi, capital of India.

This indicates that on an average, five rape cases are lodged every day in the city. Last year, the number of FIRs filed stood at 2,069, reports the Times of India.

If molestation cases are added, this year’s figure will be double. In the first two months of 2015, the number of FIRs registered under sections of 354 and 509 (molestation and outraging modesty of women) of IPC is over 500, police officers said.

Recently, Delhi Police launched Himmat, an app which allows women to send distress signals to the police control room with a touch on the screen of their smartphones.

A WhatsApp group has also been launched through which women can send the picture of the taxi/auto rickshaw they are hiring to the police. Besides these, police have also started self-defense program for women in almost all districts of the city.

Police say more than 90 percent of the rapes are committed by neighbors, friends, acquaintances or relatives.

Several cases of rape have been found to have been registered due to personal enmity, sources say. But in all cases, the cops claim to have taken swift and exemplary actions with time-bound solving the case and filing of the chargesheet.

Women rights activists said there is no deterrence and the growing number of cases of rape reported are due to the fact that the women are now more aware of the law.

“There is definitely an increase in the number of complaints registered by women, but I feel they are due to the increased level of awareness and not due to the free registration of cases," sais Kavita Krishnan, secretary, All India Progressive Women’s Association.

BDST: 0858 HRS, MAR 08, 2015